The Goose River flows into the Sturgeon-Weir River less than 5 km. north of the community of Sturgeon Landing. It was part of the Hudson's Bay Company's 'Upper Track', the route to Hudson Bay from Cumberland House via the Sturgeon-Weir, Goose, Grass, and Nelson Rivers. The portage from Lake Athapapuscow at the upper end of the Goose River to First Cranberry Lake on the Grass River was named Cranberry Portage, where the community of the same name is situated.