The road crosses the Moshannon Creek back into Decatur Township in Clearfield County, where PA 53 splits from US 322 by heading north-northeast on two-lane Troy Hawk Run Highway. The route heads into Morris Township and runs through wooded areas with some homes to the northwest of the creek, passing through Troy. PA 53 curves to the north away from the creek and heads through more rural areas, heading northwest as Morrisdale Allport Highway. The road turns north again and comes to the residential community of Morrisdale, where it curves northeast into a mix of farmland and woodland with some homes. The route passes through Oak Grove before heading more to the north and running through Allport. PA 53 heads through more rural areas and turns east onto Kylertown Drifting Highway, continuing northeast and crossing into Cooper Township, where it reaches an interchange with I-80 near Kylertown. Past this interchange, the road turns east through more areas of farms and woods with occasional residences, turning north and passing through Drain Lick. The route curves northeast and comes to Drifting, where it heads north again. PA 53 passes through Cooper Settlement before turning east and running into more forested areas. The route crosses the Moshannon Creek into Snow Shoe Township in Centre County and becomes Elm Road, heading through more forests before ending at an intersection with PA 144 in the community of Moshannon. At this point, the road continues east as part of PA 144.