The Barron River originates on the Atherton Tablelands and flows toward Kuranda before descending approximately 260 metres over Barron Falls, then continuing through the steep, narrow Barron Gorge before reaching the Cairns floodplains and ultimately emptying into the Coral Sea near the Great Barrier Reef. The gorge section, located roughly 20 minutes from the Cairns CBD, is where most paddling activity takes place, with the river carving through a ravine flanked by World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics rainforest. The gorge walls alternate between dense rainforest canopy and exposed bare rockface.

The rafting section through Barron Gorge features grade 2 and 3 rapids, making it well-suited to beginners and families. The character of the run combines stretches of moving flatwater with boulder-strewn rapid sections, providing a mix of active paddling and calmer drifting. The typical commercial rafting trip runs approximately two hours on the water. Much of the river's flow through the gorge is regulated by the Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, which draws water for electricity generation. This hydro-release system means water levels remain consistent throughout the year, making the river runnable in all seasons.

The primary put-in for commercial rafting operations is accessed from Lake Placid, with the take-out downstream in the gorge. A boat ramp at Stratford, positioned beside the bridge, provides a three-lane concrete ramp with a pontoon for access to the lower river. Paddlers using the Stratford ramp should be aware that low tide can complicate navigation near the river mouth, particularly for larger craft. The lower river is crocodile habitat, and appropriate caution is required when launching, retrieving, or moving near the water's edge.

A flatwater paddling route also exists upstream, with a point-to-point paddle from Mareeba to Biboohra covering approximately 6.3 miles and rated as moderately challenging. The Barron Gorge National Park surrounds the gorge section, and the broader landscape includes the Barron Falls as a notable natural feature. The Wet Tropics rainforest lining the gorge has been internationally recognised for its ecological significance, and the river corridor has historical connections to the Aboriginal peoples of the region.