The route begins from Winterhaven, California, adjacent to the eastern exit of Interstate 8 in California at Winterhaven. The route travels northeast through portions of eastern Winterhaven, then immediately turns north through farmland, for ; (the continuation north exiting this route accesses the southern Chocolate Mountains, and the western perimeter of the Little Picacho Wilderness, a dirt road, sometimes rugged, wash-boarded and difficult). The route turns east then north, east, then north on a newly paved stretch through farmland in the Bard area for . The final turn east is through farmland for then a northeast stretch along the western shoreline of the Colorado River, Laguna Dam and a terminus at the turn-off to Imperial Dam; the river stretch is about , and seasonally has osprey, phainopepla, Abert's towhee, belted kingfisher, double-crested cormorant, and everpresent Gambel's quail, plus numerous other bird species, including the water birds. Of note, the osprey have snag perches along the river route, and can be seen eating fish on pole tops, towers, etc.