The route passes over undulating hills before entering the Canadian Shield near Burleigh Falls, and gradually turns eastward.

Proceeding north, Highway 28 crosses the Peterborough Drumlin Field, an area dominated by undulating terrain oriented in a southwest–northeast direction.

Despite this, the highway progresses due north without regard for the terrain; numerous cuts and fills have since flattened the route for easier travel.

Approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of Burleigh Falls, the route descends a hill and enters the Canadian Shield; south of this point, the terrain is underlain by limestone and covered by deciduous forests, whereas north of it the terrain is dominated by exposed granite bedrock and coniferous forests.

From there it continues northeast through the rugged shield to Highway 118, at which point it has curved fully to the east.

East of Bancroft, there is relatively little human inhabitation, with the exception of a select group of communities located on or nearby the highway.

This was accomplished by assuming existing Peterborough County roads along the Otonabee River as far as Burleigh Falls, via Lakefield.

[11][12] In 1963, a new road was constructed between McArthur Mills and Denbigh through the Madawaska Highlands, and opened as an extension of Highway 500 on July 1.

[18] The following table lists the major junctions along Highway 28, as noted by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.