The Wood River winds through the sweeping grasslands and rolling hills of south-western Saskatchewan, originating in the Wood Mountain Hills and flowing in a north-easterly direction until it empties into Old Wives Lake — a saltwater lake with no outflow, making the entire Wood River drainage basin an endorheic system. This is a prairie river set within a landscape of wide skies and open country, tucked into tree-lined bends and coulees that offer a surprising degree of shelter and natural beauty amid the surrounding plains. The river holds a special place in Saskatchewan culture, having inspired the beloved Canadian folk song by Connie Kaldor that is widely regarded as the quintessential Saskatchewan song.