The route runs along the eastern side of Lake Almanor.

It serves as a bypass to connect State Route 89 and State Route 36 on the eastern side of the lake, whereas the two highways already meet on the western side in Chester.

[3] SR 147 is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, an All-American Road, that circles Lake Almanor.

[4] Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.

[1] Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted.