It proceeds north along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains passing through the foothills and ranch country to the aspen parkland of northern Alberta, ending at Highway 18 near Mayerthorpe.

It serves as the main artery for the western areas of the Calgary–Edmonton Corridor and the Calgary Metropolitan Region.

It proceeds north across increasingly flatter terrain of the foothills, parallel to the Oldman River, and then crosses it before entering the Municipal District of Ranchland No.

Approximately 30 km (19 mi) later, the road turns north again at a T intersection with Highway 66 and passes through a corner of Bragg Creek where there is a signal light.

Highway 22 then cuts though a corner of the Tsuu T'ina 145 Reservation passing by the community of Redwood Meadows.

Upon entering Cochrane the two lane highway passes though a major signalized intersection at Fireside Gate/James Walker Trail before dipping down into the Bow River Valley (with an southbound uphill passing lane) before meeting another signal light at George Fox Trail.

Upon reaching the other side of the river it passes though three more signal lights at Griffin Road, Quigley Drive and Bow Valley Trail (Highway 1A) in short succession (the later is currently being replaced with an interchange).

It then proceeds up a hill (with a northbound uphill passing lane) out of the river valley before meeting one final signal light at Sunset Drive.

The project also included the construction of a bridge carrying Highway 22 over a new canal that will feed the reservoir.

[20] The study was published in August 2011 and determined that passing lanes are justified at several locations, but at the time Alberta Transportation had no plans to proceed with the project.

[20] However these passing lanes were also mentioned as undergoing engineering assessment in the 2024 Provincial Construction Program implying that they will likely be built in the near future.