NY 176 begins at an intersection with
NY 370 in the town of
Cato. NY 176 proceeds northwest through Cato as a two-lane rural roadway, passing several farms in each direction, along with a large pond. A short distance later, NY 176 crosses the town line out of Cato into
Ira, remaining the two-lane farm road, but turning northeast. NY 176 runs near the shore of a large pond in Ira, crossing an intersection with
County Route 38 (CR 38; Ira Hill Road / Lysander Road). NY 176 continues north through Ira, crossing several farms before crossing the county line into
Oswego County. Now in Oswego County, NY 176 is in the town of
Hannibal and immediately into the hamlet of South Hannibal. In South Hannibal, the route makes a gradual bend to the east at a junction with
CR 7. South Hannibal consists of a few homes along NY 176 and CR 7, until NY 176 leaves the hamlet eastbound. Continuing through Hannibal, NY 176 becomes residential before crossing over a large pond, where it bends to the northeast. NY 176 continues northeast through Hannibal, intersecting with several local roads before entering the town of
Granby. In Granby, the route turns eastward once again, entering the hamlet of Bowens Corners. In Bowens Corners, NY 176 proceeds eastward as a two-lane residential street, intersecting with
CR 8 (Minetto–Lysander Road), which runs concurrent along NY 176 for a short distance to the north. At the northern end of Bowens Corners, NY 176 bends east off the right-of-way of CR 8, which continues north towards
Minetto. NY 176 meanwhile, proceeds east out of Bowens Corners, crossing a large farm in the town of Granby, where it turns to the northeast. The route becomes primarily residential after Chipper Road, while intersecting with the northern terminus of
CR 55 (Jacksonville Road). After this intersection, the route becomes rural again, continuing northeast through Granby. Intersecting with the northern terminus of
CR 14 (Ley Creek Road), NY 176 crosses a railroad grade and enters the city of
Fulton. In Fulton, NY 176 gains the moniker of Curtis Street, becoming a two-lane residential street. NY 176 passes through four city blocks before intersecting with
NY 48 (West First Street) on the shores of the
Oswego River. This intersection serves as the northern terminus of NY 176. ==History==