River Ivalojoki begins on the watershed region of Peltotunturit Fells in the municipality of Enontekiö, and flows through the southern part of Lemmenjoki National Park and Hammastunturi Wilderness Area. The river is 184 km long altogether. Except a few houses, there are no inhabitants along the river until it ends in Ivalo, which is the administrative centre of the municipality of Inari. Flowing into Lake Inarijärvi, River Ivalojoki forms a great estuary and a local bird paradise. Because the river runs through uninhabited land, the only places upstream where it is possible to reach its banks by car are along the Inari - Kittilä road in Ivalon Matti and in the village of Kuttura.

This Finland's most famous gold river flows through the scene of the gold rush, which was a century ago, and the current gold digging areas. Gold diggers still work actively on their claims along the branches of the river. The colourful history of the river fascinates imagination, and the scenery is at its most impressive before the river calms down to meander around the centre of Ivalo and in the estuary. Only in the last 30 km of the river, it is wide and surrounded by human settlements. In the very end, it broadens into a delta which is several square kilometres large, and consists of islands and capes growing sedges and birches. They can only be reached by boat.

The waters of River Ivalojoki flow into the Arctic Sea, via Lake Inarijärvi and River Paatsjoki. The natural state of Lake Inarijärvi is affected by the water regulation which is done in order to even up the water supply to the power stations on River Paatsjoki. The rise of the water level in the beginning of the summer is harmful to the birds nesting low on the shores. Water regulation also affects the fish populations. The estuary of River Ivalojoki also suffers from the water regulation, but it is still one of the important bird sites in Inari.