The river rises east of Hårteigen (), a mountain in the central part of the Hardanger Plateau. It runs to the north and empties into Lake Eidfjord. Along its course from the plateau to the Valur Valley (Valursdalen) is Valur Falls (Valursfossen), with a height of . It then flows through the Hjølmo Valley (Hjølmadalen) before reaching Lake Eidfjord. In 1981 the river system was protected against development for hydroelectric power in connection with the creation of Hardanger Plateau National Park.