From its southern terminus at Route 27, Route 26 continues east on a bridge over a body of water for eight paces before turning north and encountering a trainer. About 15 paces north of the northward turn, Route 26 makes landfall for the first time. At this point, the route turns to the northeast for a short distance, passing through several grassy areas filled with wild Pokémon before encountering another trainer at a three-way intersection. To the west is the southern entrance to a southbound-only express route that occupies the west side of Route 26. To the north are more grass patches and the main path of Route 26 as it continues on.
Free of grass for the remainder of the route, the road continues north for another 20 paces before meeting the northern terminus of the express path, which can be used to return to Route 27, Tohjo Falls, and Johto quickly. North of the intersection is a rest stop similar to that on Route 111 in Hoenn. Next to this house is an Ice Berry tree (Blu Apricorn in Generation IV).
Route 26 turns northwest from the rest stop, passing another trainer before returning northward. 25 paces ahead, Ace Trainer Gaven awaits on the west bank of a small pond located east of the route. Upon defeating him, he will offer to exchange numbers for future rematches.
Continuing towards the Reception Gate, Route 26 turns northeast ahead of another southbound-only express path. The route straightens out, taking on a northern alignment as it passes another trainer hidden in an alcove and Cool Trainer Beth at the northern terminus of both the express path and Route 26. Beth will also offer to change numbers after battling.
Just north of Beth is the south entrance to the Reception Gate, as well as the signpost that gives the Reception Gate its formal name.
Northern express path
Southwest of the Reception Gate is a series of ledges enclosed by the eastern edge of a large mountain that represents the western edge of Route 26 and a series of hills between the express path and the main path of Route 26. Together, the ledges make a southbound-only path that can be used to quickly travel down Route 26. A Max Elixir is also located amongst the ledges. The path rejoins Route 26 northwest of the small pond.
Southern express path
The southern express path begins south of the rest stop at an intersection with Route 26. After heading west, the path enters a large area of grass that encompasses most of the northern portion of the path. Eight paces to the west, the express route turns south for another 10 paces before circling east around a house. Upon further observation, the house is the home of the Week Siblings, although none of them are present. A note on the table reveals the location of every sibling and the days they will appear on.
South of the house, the path hops over a ledge, officially making the path southbound-only. Here, it meets the southern entrance to the express path. Travel east along the entrance, however, is prohibited by a ledge that separates the entrance from the path.
Continuing south of the one-way intersection, the path hops over two more ledges before reaching the water body that encompasses most of southern Route 26. Trainers can either Surf across the water to the bridge or turn to the west and continue along the express path, which continues for a short distance before forcing trainers to hop a ledge onto Route 27.
Generation II
This route is very grassy, but yet with several rocky outcroppings in the east and west and tiny rocks along the road. The sea rocks follow the shape of the bridge, and trees are in the south borders of the route. There is also a portion of sea at the northeast of the route
Generation IV
In this Generation, a large amount of rocky hills are added along the road, making the route less grassy and more like a mountain. While the hills are of an altitude of one tile in the original games, in the remakes the hills have an altitude of 13 rocky outcroppings: two hills are placed after the two southern ledges, one hill is added north of the rest house and four hills are placed along the road, the others are only for decoration and they are placed in the borders of the route. There is also an island in the southeast, and now the player can surf down the bridges. The trees in the west section and the sea portion in the northeast are also removed.
