The road serves as the primary transportation corridor of Smith Valley and is Main street in Yerington.

The character of the highway gradually changes descending from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada into high desert, finally reaching the agricultural communities of Smith and Mason Valleys.

[2] The highway angles away from the Sierra into extreme northern Antelope Valley and through the unincorporated town of Topaz Ranch Estates before climbing several hundred feet over Jack Wright Summit (elevation 5842 MSL).

It then makes a steep descent through a canyon created by the West Walker River, flattening out into Smith Valley at the town of Wellington.

The route was first part of the lesser used Sonora Pass branch of the California Trail.