For much of its length, the Sturgeon is the northwestern-most major river in the Hudson Bay drainage basin, as the river runs close to and parallel to the Arctic Divide.

[2] Fish species which may be found in the river include: walleye, pike, perch, burbot, goldeye, sturgeon, whitefish, and sauger.

It flows east toward Edmonton and about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of Edmonton (near St. Albert) turns northeast after entering Big Lake.

About 38 kilometres (24 mi) north-northeast of Edmonton (near Gibbons) it turns to the southeast.

It enters the North Saskatchewan River at a point about 35 kilometres (22 mi) northeast of Edmonton and about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) northeast of Fort Saskatchewan.