The Sailaufbach originates at an elevation of at the base of the Eselshöhe ridge. Its source is located on the western slope of the
Steigkoppe () within an
exclave of the municipality of Sailauf in the Sailauf Forest. The stream flows southwest close to the quarry where the
arsenate mineral sailaufite was discovered. It then reaches Obersailauf, where it is joined by the Oberer Steinbach and flows through the village alongside the local AB 2 road. The
Eichenberger Bach, its largest tributary, joins it in Mittelsailauf. (This tributary is mistakenly identified as the upper course of the Sailaufbach on some maps.) The Sailaufbach continues through Untersailauf where the Erlenbach flows into it. Near the Weyberhöfe estates, it passes under the
Bundesstraße 26 and flows into the Laufach river at an elevation of .
Cycle bridge The cycle path bridge over the Sailaufbach near Weyberhöfe was replaced in 2024 with a steel bridge after the previous wooden bridge was found to be suffering from rot. == History ==