The state highway passes through the namesake valley in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, passing through the hamlet of Etlan directly east of Old Rag Mountain. SR 231 passes through Peola Mills as the highway enters Rappahannock County just north of its crossing of the Hughes River. The state highway crosses the upper reaches of the Hazel River and passes through Ashbys Corner before reaching its northern terminus at a wye junction with US 522 (Sperryville Pike) southeast of Sperryville.
The state highway travels through the valley named after it, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, passing by the hamlet of Etlan east of Old Rag Mountain. SR 231 passes through Peola Mills as the highway enters Rappahannock County near its crossing of the Hughes River. The highway crosses the upper reaches of the Hazel River and passes through Ashbys Corner before reaching its northern terminus at a junction with US 522 (Sperryville Pike) southeast of Sperryville.