The Rio Jucu Braço Norte originates at Serra do Castelo, a spur of the Serra da Pedra Azul, in the district of Aracê within the município of Domingos Martins, at an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters. This branch runs approximately 123 km before joining the Braço Sul; from that confluence, the combined Rio Jucu continues another 43 km to its mouth at Praia da Barra do Jucu in Vila Velha, within the metropolitan region of Grande Vitória. The Braço Norte thus forms the longer and upper portion of the Rio Jucu system, descending from the mountainous interior of Espírito Santo toward the coast.

The river's character in its upper reaches is fast-moving with frequent rapids. The Rio Jucu system as a whole is well established for rafting, with rapids classified from Class I through Class V+. During the rainy season, water levels can rise enough to push conditions to Class VI, which represents an extreme and generally non-runnable hazard. Paddlers should factor seasonal rainfall patterns into trip planning carefully, as high water significantly escalates the danger of the more technical sections.

A notable infrastructure feature along the river is the Barragem São Pedro, operated by São Pedro Energia S.A., which paddlers will need to account for when planning routes. The Cascata do Galo is a point of interest in the river corridor.

Water quality is a concern on this river. Despite supplying approximately 25% of the state of Espírito Santo's water, the Rio Jucu receives considerable volumes of pollution and sewage discharge along its course, which paddlers should be aware of regarding immersion risk and general hygiene precautions.