They lie entirely in Austria between Achensee in Tyrol, the Inn Valley and the Bavarian Prealps.

They are widely known in German as the Rofangebirge, although the actual Rofan (also Sonnwendgebirge) is only the western part of the area between the Brandenberger Ache stream and the Achensee lake.

The Guffert (2,195 m (7,201 ft)), which is located outside the central group, forms a distinct mountain block.

It is located north of Kramsach, between the Tegernsee Blauberge and the central Rofan.

The Unnütze, at the northern end of the Achensee east of Achenkirch, and the Ebener Joch (1,957 m (6,421 ft)) east of Maurach at the southern end of the Achensee, are also outside the central mountain range.