The upper section of the Salza carries the name Querne.

Its source is near the village Landgrafroda [de], a district of the town Querfurt.

It flows through Querfurt to Obhausen, where it receives its right tributary Weidenbach.

Downstream from this confluence, the river carries the name Weida.

It continues through Schraplau and Röblingen am See and near Langenbogen it receives water that is pumped out of the lake Kernersee [de] (fed by the river Böse Sieben).