 The South Fork Crooked River originates in an area called Misery Flat, along the Deschutes County, Lake County and Harney County boundaries, north of Glass Buttes.The South Fork's tributaries drain Hampton Buttes to the west and Mackey Butte to the east.The South Fork Crooked River flows north for , collecting tributaries including Buck Creek and Twelvemile Creek before joining Beaver Creek to form the Crooked River proper near Paulina in Crook County.