It drains part of the Northern Oregon Coast Range in the extreme northwest corner of state, entering the Columbia via Youngs Bay just approximately 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth.

[5] It broadens in a large estuary and enters the south end of Youngs Bay on the Columbia at Astoria.

It receives the Wallooskee River from the east approximately 2 miles (3 km) south of Astoria.

Below that come Cooperage, Battle Creek, Tucker, Casey, Binder, and Cook sloughs followed by the Wallooskee River.

Further downstream are Crosel, Brown, and Craig creeks followed by Knowland Slough and the Lewis and Clark River.