Glacial till and bedrock consisting of shale and sandstone can be found along the stream.

Rough Run begins on a plateau in Davidson Township, Sullivan County, not far from the edge of the West Branch Fishing Creek watershed.

The stream flows south-southwest for a short distance before turning south-southeast and dropping off the plateau.

The stream reaches its confluence with West Branch Fishing Creek immediately afterwards.

[5] Rough Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979.

[3] Rough Run is named for the rapid speed which its waters flow at and also for the dense foliage that occurs along it.