Beginning in the Cardwell Hills northwest of Corvallis, the creek flows generally south through the McDonald State Forest to near Bald Hill. It then flows southeast through the west side of the city and the Oregon State University campus to enter the river near Reser Stadium and Avery Park. It passes under U.S. Route 20, concurrent here with Oregon Route 34, between the stadium and Marys River, about from its confluence with the Willamette River.