The Rivière des Roches rises at the confluence of three mountain streams, on the west side of Mont Bleu, in the unorganized territory of Lac-Jacques-Cartier.

[2] The origin of the toponymic designation "Rivière des Roches" derives from the nature of the bottom of the river where many rocks disturb its course.

At the beginning of the 19th century, a group of citizens and religious leaders thought of building a church in the hamlet of Rivière-des-Roches, near the site of an old butter factory.

There are three other watercourses officially named Rivière des Roches, including two from the very region of Quebec, located at Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures and Charlesbourg.

[3] The toponym "Rivière des Roches" was formalized on December 5, 1968 at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.