SR 161 begins at an intersection with
U.S. Route 97 north of
Dorris. The route travels east past
Indian Tom Lake, bending to the south and passing by
Lake Miller and
Sheepy Lake. SR 161 continues past the
Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and near the northern edge of
Lower Klamath Lake. The highway then resumes paralleling the state line again, with some stretches actually running directly along the border and segments of the westbound lane inside Oregon's territory, to its easter terminus at the intersection of
Route 139 and
Oregon Route 39 north of
Tulelake in the community of
Hatfield. SR 161 is not part of the
National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the
Federal Highway Administration. SR 161 is eligible for the
State Scenic Highway System, but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the
California Department of Transportation. SR 161 is part of a spur route of the
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, an
All-American Road, that heads towards
Tule Lake and
Lava Beds National Monument. ==Major intersections==