In pioneer times, northbound travelers from the Castle or Price River Valleys ascended along the White River to the Emma and Whitmore Park area east of Soldier Summit and then descended northeast through the Soldier Creek canyon to reach the cities of the Utah and Salt Lake Valleys.

[2] About 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Soldier Summit, the White River mainstem is formed by the confluence of the Left Fork White River,[3] which begins on the south flank of Willow Creek Ridge, and the Right Fork White River[4] which drains Reservation Ridge.

As the White River heads southeast along U.S. Route 6, it is joined by Tabbyune Creek,[6] before ending at the confluence with the Price River in Colton in Utah County.

The distribution and abundance of this cutthroat trout subspecies are now limited to small populations in less than 1% of its historic range in the upper tributaries of the Colorado River watershed.

[7] Other fish found in the White River watershed include mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii), speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus), and mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus).