The majority of the route is relatively level through suburban housing and commercial businesses, the steepest grades occur approaching and departing the Buck Creek floodplain.

Long range plans call for routing SR 261 around historic Old Town Helena via a new bypass that will intersect with CR 52 west of the current terminus.

Steel railings provide vehicle protection, a narrow sidewalk is present on the downstream side of the bridge.

SR 261 crosses three railroad tracks at grade consisting of the CSX Transportation Lineville Subdivision east of Buck Creek (MP 1.4) and the CSX Transportation S&NA Subdivision (and connected siding) west of Buck Creek (MP 1.2).

A historic marker for the Central Iron Works rolling mill,[2] built in 1865 and since destroyed, is at the intersection of Lake Davidson Road and SR 261 in Helena at milepost 1.2.