It rises in the Cascade Range and flows into the Coast Fork Willamette River near Cottage Grove.

[2] A post office named Row River operated from 1911 to 1914 a little north of the present site of Dorena at 43°44′24″N 122°52′49″W / 43.740123°N 122.880347°W / 43.740123; -122.880347.

[2] The Row River, about 20 miles (32 km) long, drains a portion of the Umpqua National Forest on the west face of the central Oregon Cascades between Cottage Grove and Oakridge.

The river passes a second USGS stream gauge 5.5 miles (8.9 km) from the mouth, and soon Hann's Creek enters from the right.

In its final 5 miles (8 km), the river receives Mosby Creek from the left, turns northwest, flows by Cottage Grove State Airport, and passes under Interstate 5 before entering the Coast Fork Willamette River just below the larger stream's RM 21 (RK 34).