SR 197 begins with an intersection at U.S. Route 199 in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

Moving northward, the road quickly exits the park, roughly paralleling the Smith River located to the west side of the road.

The road meets its northern terminus at U.S. Route 101 just south of the Oregon border.

[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.