Combined, Route 71 and NY 71 extend for 7.93 miles (12.76 km) as a two-lane road through mostly rural areas in the Taconic Mountains, serving only small, unincorporated communities in both states.

At 2.30 miles (3.70 km) in length, NY 71 is the shortest two-digit state highway in New York.

The valley and the road curve slightly southward near the Egremont town line, at which point the level of development along the highway begins to slowly taper off.

It continues alongside the Green River to North Egremont, an unincorporated village comprising a small cluster of homes around Route 71's junction with Boice and Prospect Lake roads.

Near the center of the community, the highway crosses into the town of Great Barrington and passes south of Walter J. Koladza Airport.