The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 159 in the Duanesburg hamlet of Mariaville Lake.

[3] Back in Schenectady County, NY 160 clips the northeastern corner of the town of Duanesburg and passes quietly through Princetown on its way to Rotterdam.

Just past the town line, NY 160 descends into the valley surrounding the Mohawk River and passes under the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) as it enters the hamlet of Pattersonville, the western portion of a census-designated place that includes nearby Rotterdam Junction.

The route continues northeast for an additional 500 feet (150 m) before making a hard left to avoid the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail (the former Selkirk Subdivision railroad).

Here, it turned northeast to follow Scotch Church Road through the Rotterdam to the hamlet of Pattersonville, where it rejoined NY 5S.