PA 487 begins at an intersection with
PA 61 in the community of
Paxinos in
Shamokin Township,
Northumberland County, heading northeast on a two-lane undivided road. The route heads through commercial areas, crossing the
Shamokin Valley Railroad before heading across the
Shamokin Creek into
Ralpho Township, where it becomes West Valley Avenue. The road passes more businesses and continues into a mix of farmland, woodland, and homes. PA 487 reaches the community of
Elysburg where it intersects
PA 54. After this, the road becomes East Valley Avenue and runs through more agricultural and wooded areas with a few residences, becoming an unnamed road. The route heads into woodland and eventually arrives at
Knoebels Amusement Resort. At Knoebels, PA 487 crosses the South Branch
Roaring Creek into
Franklin Township,
Columbia County and turns more to the north, heading through wooded areas to the east of the creek. The road curves east and becomes Southern Drive, heading into open agricultural areas with some homes and crossing Roaring Creek. The route turns to the northeast and runs through more farmland with some woods and residences. PA 487 enters
Catawissa Township and continues into more wooded areas, coming to an intersection with
PA 42. At this point, PA 487 joins PA 42 for a
concurrency, with the two routes heading north through more woodland on Numidia Drive. The road crosses the
Catawissa Creek into the borough of
Catawissa and becomes Mill Street, heading northwest into residential areas. PA 42 splits from PA 487 by heading west-northwest on Main Street, with PA 487 continuing north-northeast onto North 4th Street, passing more homes. The route turns northeast onto Merceron Street and leaves Catawissa for Catawissa Township again, becoming Riverhill Drive and heading into open farmland with some residences. The road curves to the north and passes through the neighborhood of Breezy Acres, heading into more wooded areas of homes and turning to the northwest. PA 487 runs through dense forests before coming to a bridge that carries it over
Norfolk Southern's
Sunbury Line and across the
Susquehanna River as the
East Bloomsburg Bridge, also known as Ferry Road. Past this interchange, the route becomes two lanes and undivided again, becoming Main Street and heading north into areas of farms, woods, and residences, passing through the community of
Light Street. The road enters
Orange Township and runs along the east bank of
Fishing Creek, heading through wooded areas with some farm fields and homes. PA 487 turns east away from the creek and heads into open farmland with some woods and residences. The road curves north again and heads into the borough of
Orangeville, running past homes as it intersects the northern terminus of
PA 93. The route heads northeast through more of the town before crossing back into Orange Township, where it becomes an unnamed road that heads through forests to the southeast of Fishing Creek. PA 487 crosses the creek and continues through a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes. The road heads more to the east and enters
Fishing Creek Township, running through open farmland before turning north into woods to the west of Fishing Creek, passing through Forks. The route heads through more agricultural areas with some woodland and residences, crossing into the borough of
Stillwater. In the borough, PA 487 passes through more rural areas before heading near a few homes and turning northwest, crossing Fishing Creek again. The road continues through more farmland with some homes, heading back into Fishing Creek Township again before entering
Benton Township. Here, the route becomes Maple Grove Road and heads north through rural areas of homes, intersecting the eastern terminus of
PA 254. PA 487 crosses into
Sullivan County where it becomes the border between
Davidson Township to the west and
Colley Township to the east, heading through more forested areas of the state park. The road fully enters Colley Township and passes to the west of Lake Jean, continuing along the western border of Ricketts Glen State Park. Past the state park, the route heads through more dense forest and passes through
Ricketts, curving to the northwest. PA 487 heads into wooded areas with some fields and homes, curving west and coming to the community of
Lopez. Here, the route turns north and crosses
Loyalsock Creek, continuing northwest into more dense forests. The road becomes the border between
Cherry Township to the southwest and Colley Township to the northeast before fully entering Cherry Township and curving to the west. The route turns north and passes through the residential community of
Mildred, continuing through more woodland with some farm fields and homes. PA 487 curves northwest into farmland with some woods and homes, entering the borough of
Dushore as Bernice Road and reaching its northern terminus at
PA 87. ==History==