Coldwater Canyon Avenue begins at a Y intersection with North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills in the Westside region of Los Angeles. It then heads north within the canyon of the same name, running perpendicular to and then over the central Santa Monica Mountains, then descends into the eastern portion of the San Fernando Valley, continuing through that valley to Roscoe Boulevard. It parallels Laurel Canyon Boulevard for its entire length. Communities it passes through include Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, Valley Glen and Van Nuys. When passing through the Studio City community of Los Angeles, Coldwater Canyon Avenue crosses the main Los Angeles River, then runs along the west side of the north–south fork of Tujunga Wash, before crossing the wash to its east side, as the road continues north through the Valley Glen community. Coldwater Canyon Avenue continues north, parallel but at a steadily greater distance from Tujunga Wash. Coldwater Canyon Avenue moves closer to the east side of Tujunga Wash just before becoming the northeasterly Sheldon Street at a crossroad intersection with Roscoe Boulevard, in the western portion of the Sun Valley community of Los Angeles.
Coldwater Canyon Avenue is a busy thoroughfare, particularly as it winds through, and over, the Santa Monica Mountains between Beverly Hills and the San Fernando Valley. In this specific area, the neighborhoods are highly affluent.[1]