[3] The river appears to have been first explored by outsiders in 1834 by a "Creole [Indian] named Malakov" and the name may have been obtained by the Russians at that time, recorded by the Russia Hydrography Department on chart 1378 dated 1847 as Р(ека) Сушитна (R(eka) Sušitna) "Sushitna River".

[1] The 1890 census reported that Susitna Village on the east bank of the river had 146 Kenai Natives and 27 houses.

The Susitna along with the Matanuska River, drains the broad Matanuska-Susitna Valley south of the Alaska Range.

Valdez Creek, notable for its 1903 gold mining, is one of the small headwater tributaries of Susitna River.

[6] The Susitna River is one of Southcentral Alaska's premier sport fishing streams, with significant runs of Chinook and Coho salmon, along with resident grayling, burbot, and rainbow trout.

[8] The channels across the flats at the mouth of Susitna River have depths of 2 feet (610 mm) or less at low water and change during the winter and spring because of ice and freshet action.

Overhead power cables with a least clearance of 37 feet (11 m) cross the Susitna River about 5 miles (8 km) above its mouth.

[8] Alexander, Alaska is a small settlement on the west side of Susitna River 10 miles (16 km) above the mouth.

It spans the Susitna River on the eastern edge of Denali State Park near Gold Creek.