The Teplá Vltava originates in the territory of Kvilda in the Bohemian Forest at an elevation of 1,174 m (3,852 ft), on the slope of the Černá hora Mountain, and flows to the Pěkná exclave of the Nová Pec municipality, where it merges with the Studená Vltava River at an elevation of 731 m (2,398 ft) and continues as Vltava.

[2] The longest tributaries of the Teplá Vltava are:[4] The river flows through the municipal territories of Kvilda, Borová Lada, Horní Vltavice, Lenora, Volary, Stožec and Nová Pec.

The largest of them is the artificial lake Žďárecké jezírko with an area of 1.6 ha (4.0 acres), supplied by the Častá Brook.

Among the common species of fish in the Teplá Vltava are river trout, European bullhead, burbot and grayling.

[5] The Teplá Vltava is suitable for river tourism, but due to its location in a protected area, paddling is only permitted under certain conditions.