The Avawatz Mountains are located in San Bernardino County, California, in the Mojave Desert.

It could be derived from the Mohave Indian term "Avi-Ahwat", or "red rock".

[2] Alternatively, the name comes from the Southern Paiute word iva-wätz, meaning "white mountain sheep,"[3] or another Southern Paiute word, ávawatz, meaning "gypsum".

[4] The range lies to the west of State Route 127; between the Owlshead Mountains in the southern end of Death Valley National Park, and the Soda Mountains near the town of Baker.

As such, it is considered the southern end of the Walker Lane geologic trough.