At 0.30 miles (0.48 km) in length, it is the shortest signed state route in New York.

It heads east as White Bridge Road, running along the north end of Owasco Lake.

The route ends 200 yards (180 m) later at a T-intersection with NY 38A in an area of Owasco known as Melrose Park.

[1] What is now NY 437 was originally improved to state highway standards in stages during the early 20th century.

The portion from the modern traffic circle with NY 38 to the Owasco Lake outlet was rebuilt in 1908 as part of State Highway 384 (SH 384), while the section between the outlet and current NY 38A was reconstructed from 1912 to 1913 as part of SH 752.