From the junction with the Falmouth Branch, which heads south at Canal Junction (MP 54.9) in Bourne, the single track line heads northeast along the east side of the Cape Cod Canal, unsignaled, with maximum speeds 40 mph for passenger trains and 30 mph for freights, past Aptuxcet Road (MP 55.4), turning east to follow the east bank of the canal to the 41-car siding at Sagamore (MP 59.7), where it turns just south of due east, away from the canal, past the 15-car siding at Jarves Street (MP 62.2), the passenger station at Sandwich (MP 62.2), cranberry bogs on both sides of the line, East Sandwich, a turn east and then south-southeast, the passenger station at West Barnstable (MP 69.4), the 10-car siding at Main Street-Route 149 (MP 69.4), a turn east, Barnstable (MP 73.3), and a turn east-southeast.
There is a 30 mph speed restriction on the curve to the south-southwest between MP 75.28 and MP 75.75, past Willow (MP 75.3), junction with the South Dennis Branch heading east-southeast, MP 78.2, where Yard Limits start, and the yard at Hyannis (MP 79.0), where there is a passenger station with platform and depot on the east side and a street across the stub end of the line.