The Rivière des Hurons flows through the municipality of Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, north of Quebec City, within the La Jacques-Cartier Regional County Municipality in the Capitale-Nationale administrative region. It is the most significant tributary of Saint-Charles Lake, which serves as one of Quebec City's drinking water reserves. The river originates from the confluence of two mountain streams at an elevation of approximately 659 metres in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury and flows down to its mouth at Saint-Charles Lake.

The river valley is accessed via several roads including the Grande-Ligne road along the northwest shore, Route 175, Saint-Edmond road, Talbot Boulevard, First Avenue, and Lepire Road. Canot Kayak Québec has produced a dedicated digital map for the river, available through the Avenza Maps app, which marks put-in and take-out points, rapids, portages, camping sites, and other points of interest along the corridor.

Classified as a sporting river, the Rivière des Hurons is navigable primarily in spring, when water levels are sufficient to support paddling. Paddlers should plan their trips accordingly, as the river's character and runnability are closely tied to seasonal water levels. The route involves rapids and portages, indicating a technically demanding experience suited to paddlers with appropriate whitewater skills.

The river carries historical and cultural significance tied to the Wendat (Huron) people, who settled in the Quebec region after being displaced from the Ontario peninsula in 1651. They traveled the Saint-Charles River system, and the river's name commemorates their presence in this territory. The surrounding landscape reflects the forested terrain typical of the Laurentian highlands north of Quebec City.