The majority of the route travels through the Canadian Shield, with the exception of the final few kilometres approaching Renfrew, where it descends into the Ottawa Valley.

After passing through forests for 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), the route enters the small community of Dacre, where it intersects former Highway 513 (Scotch Bush Road) north to Hyndford.

Leaving Dacre, the highway passes by several farms as it dips south to cross Constant Creek, a tributary of the Madawaska River, before turning east-northeast.

It meanders around several large swamps and small lakes that dot the Madawaska Highlands, otherwise passing through thick forests for the next 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi) until it enters a clearing and the hamlet of Shamrock.

Here the forests give way to agricultural fields for the next 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), before the highway enters Renfrew at Riverview Drive and become urban.