NY197 begins at an intersection with US9 (Saratoga Road) in the town of Moreau northeast of interchange 17 on the Adirondack Northway (I-87). NY197 heads eastward as Reynolds Road as a primarily residential two-lane boulevard through Moreau. Entering the hamlet of Reynolds Corners, NY197 intersects with NY32 (Gansevoort Road), where the route becomes a slight more rural east of the intersection. The route passes to the south of the Tee-Bird Country Club in Moreau, bending to the northeast through Moreau, paralleling Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express route, intersecting with CR28 (Fort Edward Road) and CR29 (West River Road). After the junction with CR28, NY197 crosses the Hudson River and enters Washington County. Entering the village of Fort Edward, NY197 crosses Rogers Island Park and becomes known as Bridge Street.[3]
NY197 approaching the terminus at NY40 in Argyle village
Through Fort Edward, NY197 intersects with US4 (Broadway), in which form a concurrency to the east. Crossing under the Amtrak line, the two roads head southbound out of the downtown parts of the village before NY197 forks to the northeast along the Champlain Canal as Argyle Street. NY197 crosses eastward over the canal and into the town of Fort Edward. After the crossing, NY197 becomes a rural two-lane roadway, passing eastward through farms. At the junction with CR42 before darting to the southeast into the town of Argyle. NY197 begins a winding pattern to the southeast, before turning gradually at a junction with CR44 into the village of Argyle. In the village, the southern terminus of CR43 intersects before NY197 turns southbound into the downtown portion. Passing several residences, NY197 gains the moniker of Main Street before terminating at an intersection with NY40 (Sheridan Street). Main Street continues southbound as NY40 through the village.[3]
