The highway is notoriously steep, narrow, winding, and difficult to drive, especially its southern section from Hospital Rock to Giant Forest within Sequoia National Park.

This section also consists of numerous switchbacks, and has a speed limit of 10 MPH.

The road travels northeast along the middle fork of the Kaweah River and enters Sequoia National Park through the Indian Head Entrance.

[5] The road continues northwest through Giant Sequoia National Monument before traveling along the northern border of Kings Canyon National Park, briefly entering it before terminating at SR 180.

[6] Two of the stone bridges on the highway are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.