The River Lee in Cork rises in the Sheehy Mountains and flows through the heart of Cork City, where it reaches the sea at Cork Harbour. The city itself is centred on an island formed where the river diverges and reconverges over roughly 1¾ miles. The river's flow is regulated by two hydro-electric dams upstream at Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid, meaning water levels depend on electricity demand and the time of year rather than rainfall alone.

The most frequently paddled stretch is the Lee Fields section, located just west of Cork city centre on the Carrigrohane Road. To reach it, head out from the city centre toward UCC on the N22, then turn right onto Carrigrohane Road at the Crows Nest restaurant; the car park is approximately 400 metres ahead on the right. This section is used by freestyle, polo, long-distance, and beginner paddlers, and Phoenix Kayak Club is based here. A slipway at the Lee Fields car park serves as a put-in for long-distance paddlers heading upstream. The difficulty rating for the Lower Lee is Grade I–III. Coordinates for the uppermost put-in, just below the dam, are approximately 51.9034, -8.6595, with a mid-river take-out near the Phoenix Club at approximately 51.8947, -8.5172.

Near Ballincollig, close to the Lee Fields, there is a weir just off the Inniscarra Road featuring two long weirs on either side and a central drop of approximately nine to ten feet, roughly twenty feet wide, with a pool around eight feet deep at the base. In low water it is suitable for beginners; in higher water, holes form at the base of both weirs and can make it a play spot. Caution is strongly advised on the right-hand bank near the walkway, where approximately three iron bars are present and pose a significant hazard. There is parking near the put-in, with the weir about 600 yards downstream.

A separate hazard has been noted at a weir just before a bridge further downstream in the city, where a dangerous recirculation forms at certain tide levels. Paddlers are advised against paddling that section without careful assessment of tidal conditions. Urban kayaking under Cork's city bridges is also practiced on this river, passing landmarks including the former Eglinton and St. Kevin's asylums along the Lee Fields stretch.