Flowing briefly south, it turns west and passes through a canyon carved in volcanic rocks.

In this area, a part of the flow of its affluents is diverted for providing water for domestic consumption in Antofagasta and Tocopilla, among other localities.

After being joined by the two streams before mentioned, the Salado River enters in a floodplain area, which is used for pasturage by the inhabitants of the nearby localities, including Toconce, Caspana and Aiquina.

Then, the Salado again flows through a narrow canyon, where is found the so-called Devil's Bridge, a cut through rhyolite terrain of 5 m wide.

Finally, the Salado empties into the Loa River, the main watercourse of the Chilean Norte Grande, about 3 km south of Chiuchiu.