The North Fork rises in Wall Lake and flows northwest, then southwest.

The two forks join near Buford in eastern Rio Blanco County, forming the White.

It flows west, then northwest, past Meeker (site of the White River Museum), and across the broad valley between the Danforth Hills on the north and the Roan Plateau on the south.

In western Rio Blanco County, it turns southwest, flows past Rangely, where it is joined by Douglas Creek, and into Uintah County, Utah, where it joins the Green 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Ouray.

Taylor Draw Dam[5] creates Kenney Reservoir near Rangely, and the Johnnie Johnson Dam impounds Rio Blanco Lake near White River City.