Heading north from Saltley Viaduct, the canal runs beneath Nechells Parkway and the Birmingham-Peterborough Railway Line.

It then runs between Nechells Parkway and Mount Street Business Park and beneath Aston Church Road and the Stechford Avoiding Line.

From there, it continues northwards, past Star City before terminating at Nechells Shallow Lock, Salford Junction.

Heading north-east from Aston Cross, the canal runs through a belt of industrial estates, beneath Rocky Lane and Thimble Mill Lane, and through locks 10 and 11 of the Aston Flight, which drop the level by around 4 metres.

It then continues beneath the Cross City Railway and Cuckoo Road before reaching Salford Junction beneath the M6.

Heading north-west from Salford Junction, the canal runs beneath Spaghetti Junction and the Cross City Railway before entering Witton.

It is located at the convergence of three river valleys: the River Tame, the River Rea and the Hockley Brook.

The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, which was cut in the 1790's, follows the Hockley Brook from Aston to Salford Junction and the River Tame from Salford Junction to Erdington.

The Tame Valley Canal, which was cut in 1844, follows the River Tame from Salford Junction to Great Barr and beyond.

The Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal, which was cut in 1844, follows the River Rea from Bordesley Junction to Salford Junction.

Salford Junction contains a grade-II-listed roving bridge and two grade-II-listed aqueducts which carry the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Branch Canal above the River Tame.