It has its source at the confluence of Scouthal Burn and Strath Burn near Achingale Mill at the northern end of Bardarclay Moss (grid reference ND 24070 53578) in the Flow Country.

The river estuary (ND 36571 50934), is in the North Sea bay of Wick (ND378505) and is straddled by the town of Wick.

Viewed upstream from the estuary, the river and its tributaries can be listed as follows: The Wick River estuary ranges from the vicinity of Wick Harbour (ND370508) to an area about 2.5 kilometres inland (ND346517).

On both sides of the estuary, areas of Wick are built on artificial embankment which have narrowed the river channel, or have fixed a channel where otherwise the area would be more that of tidal beach.

The river is spanned by one railway, three roads and two footbridges.