NY 261 begins at an intersection with NY 104 (Ridge Road) on the Greece–Parma town line. It is initially known as Manitou Road, a highway designated as CR 208 by Monroe County south of NY 104. The route heads northward, following the boundary between Greece and Parma as it traverses a predominantly rural portion of Monroe County. After of sporadic development amongst open fields and wooded areas, NY 261 enters the small hamlet of West Greece, where it meets NY 18 at Latta Road. The east–west route turns north here, overlapping with NY 261 for before turning westward onto Parma Center Road. Past NY 18, the amount of development remains sporadic well into northwestern Monroe County.