The river is 65 kilometres (40 mi) long and drains an isolated area of the Canadian Rockies east of the village of Canal Flats.

It rises at Sylvan Pass, in a precipitous glacial basin in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park.

It flows southwards through a deep valley along the Park Ranges, then swings southwest to receive the North Fork from the right.

The river then makes a broad northwestward curve around the south flank of Flett Peak, passing Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park.

The White is a large, steep, fast flowing glacial river and can be up to 60 metres (200 ft) wide as it nears the mouth.