It traverses several small passes of up to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) before entering the town of Branson about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the New Mexico border.

As the highway proceeds northward from Branson, valleys and hills surround the area and the Black Mesa comes into view.

The highway ends at its junction with US 160 between of Trinidad and Kim, about 10 miles (16 km) north of Branson.

This routing was originally designated by the Colorado Department of Transportation as SH 100 (deleted) and as a portion of US 160.

Several years later, the section near NM 551 at the border was deleted, leaving the terminus at Branson.