It originates southwest of East Aurora and flows into Lake Erie at Lackawanna.
A left tributary is the South Branch Smoke Creek.
[3] The watershed area of Smoke Creek measures about 85 square kilometres (33 sq mi).
In a 2010 report by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Smoke Creek was found to have "slightly impacted water quality conditions" primarily caused by "past industrial activities and discharges including sludge banks along the creek."
However, "aquatic life and recreational uses are considered to be fully supported in the stream.