Its name comes from the German word Schwarz, meaning "black", as the creek water is muddy.

It then flows through a number of small lakes in Fenton Township, taking a turn northwards to flow through Mundy Township, and finally heading along the west side of Bishop International Airport to join up with the west branch of the creek just north of Interstate 69 near the Bristol Road on-ramps.

The west branch begins directly southwest of the city of Swartz Creek in Gaines Township.

It then flows northeast through the city and then through Flint Township, where it meets the eastern branch at Bristol Road and I-69.

The previous "head waters" was a swamp called "Gaines' Dead Marsh", or "Dead Man's Swamp", which was drained by Henry Howland Crapo for farm land.