PA 970 begins at an intersection with US 322 in Bradford Township, heading north on Shawville Highway, a three-lane undivided road with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane.

Past this interchange, PA 970 becomes a two-lane road and continues north through agricultural areas with some woods and homes, passing through Pleasant Valley.

The route heads into more forested areas and heads north-northwest, crossing a R.J. Corman Railroad line and running near the Shawville Generating Station before crossing the West Branch Susquehanna River into Goshen Township, where it ends at PA 879 in Shawville.

[6] The designation followed Drane Highway and Salem Road north through Decatur and Boggs Townships.

PA 970 then turned left onto US 322 following it northwest to its present southern terminus near Woodland.