The road is one of two highways connecting U.S. Route 95 (US 95) to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Spring Mountains area northwest of Las Vegas and its entire length is designated a Nevada Scenic Byway.

The SR 52 designation was later realigned and extended west to the California state line via Pahrump, but was discontinuous through the national forest.

At that time, it was an unimproved county road that ran from State Route 5 (now US 95) at Indian Springs to the northern border of what was then called the Nevada National Forest.

[9] The remainder of the route, from Pahrump to the Toiyabe National Forest, was removed from the state highway system.

The "Mount Charleston/Lee Canyon Road" scenic route encompasses the entire 17.5 miles (28.2 km) of highway.