Old Rye Creek connects the tiny hamlets of Rye and Jakes Corner. The northwestern half of the trail parallels the often dry Rye Creek with various private ranches set in the creek's wide canyon. After crossing Rye Creek, the southeastern half of trail winds across a hillside via shelf roads and switchbacks.
The most interesting part of this road lies in the middle. A steel pony bridge with a history straddles Rye Creek. Built in 1900, the bridge predates welding, so it's bolted and riveted together. The bridge was one of six spans of a bridge across the Gila River in Winkleman, AZ. That bridge was damaged in a 1909 flood. The Winkleman bridge was wholly replaced, and one of the six spans was repurposed to cross Rye Creek. Two other segments are still used to cross the Verde River near Perkinsville on the Jerome-Perkinsville Road.
There are a few small dispersed campsites on the southeastern end of the trail with level ground and stone fire rings.