It rises 2 miles northeast of Falcon, at the border of Sampson and Cumberland counties at the confluence of Mingo Swamp and the smaller Black River.

[2] The smaller Black River flows 30 miles from northeastern Harnett County, in Angier and approximately 25 mi (40 km) south of Raleigh.

The smaller Black River flows south-southeast past Benson, then south-southwest, passing west of Dunn.

East of Fayetteville, the South River turns south-southeast and joins the larger Black River near Ivanhoe approximately 30 mi (48 km) northwest of Wilmington.

The South River is home to a wide variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, chain pickerel,[5] various species of sunfish, longnose gar, and catfish.