The highway passes through Orleans and turns more northerly after intersecting Salmon River Road.

Passing through Happy Camp, SR 96 enters the Klamath National Forest.

Passing the Randolf Collier Safety Roadside Rest Area, the route meets its terminus at Interstate 5.

[7] The segment of SR 96 from Willow Creek to Happy Camp is designated as the Bigfoot Scenic Byway, a National Forest Scenic Byway that goes through a region boasting the most sightings of Bigfoot in the United States.

[2] Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.