It runs through rural areas in eastern Bradford County as a two-lane undivided road.

It was designated onto its present alignment on May 27, 1935, running between US 6/US 309 in Limehill and US 106 (now PA 706) in Camptown.

PA 409 begins at an intersection with US 6 (the Grand Army of the Republic Highway) in the hamlet of Homets Ferry in Wyalusing Township.

The route heads to the northeast, crossing an old alignment of US 6 in the middle of fields before heading into the woodlands nearby, making a gradual curve out along a stagecoach road.

After intersecting with a dirt road, the highway enters a large patch of forestry, paralleling nearby Billings Creek Road before entering the village of Camptown.