SR 236 begins in the community of Boulder Creek and ends at Governor's Camp in Big Basin State Park near the Waterman Gap.

The road then heads northwestward through an area of evergreen forest, exiting the town.

Amidst the park, the road turns abruptly toward the north, where it continues winding through the forest.

As it exits the park, the road abruptly turns eastward again, heading again toward SR 9, where it meets its northern terminus.

[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.