It is a left tributary of the Kalte Bode, about 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi) long.

The Wormke rises north of Schierke above the Jakobsbruch at about 848 metres (2,782 ft) above sea level in the Harz National Park and flows initially eastwards.

After turning towards the southeast, it crosses the Glashüttenweg footpath on the Harzer Hexenstieg trail, where a weir diverts almost all its water into the Wormsgraben ditch.

Near Mandelholz [de] (a part of Elend) the river finally discharges into the Kalte Bode.

In its lower reaches was once a pond, the Mandelhölzer Teich [de] (Wormke Reservoir), until the dam broke on 22 July 1855.