SH 23 begins at an intersection with US 385 (North Interocean Avenue) and Howitt Street in Holyoke, near the city's northern edge.

About 9.6 miles (15.4 km) from the beginning of the route, and after connecting with multiple county roads, SH 23 passed through the census-designated place of Amherst.

[2] Continuing northeast along the north side of the BNSF tracks from Amherst, SH 23 travel through more agricultural area and connects with several more county roads.

About 0.8 miles (1.3 km) farther northeast, SH 23 reaches its northern terminus at County Road 63.2 (CR 63.2), which runs along the Colorado-Nebraska state line.

)[2] For its entire length of SH 23 is two-lane road, with no major junctions and, other than Holyoke and Amherst, does not pass near any populated paces.