They are within Austrian East Tyrol and Carinthia, and Italian Friuli (Province of Udine) and marginally in Veneto.

The mountains gave their name to the stage on the geologic time scale known as Carnian, an age in the Triassic Period.

They extend from east to west for about 100 km (62 mi) between the Gail River, a tributary of the Drava and the Tagliamento, forming the border between Austria and Italy.

In the Carnic Alps is the southernmost glacier in Austria, the Eiskar, nestling in the Kellerwand massif.

Among the most important mountains of the range are: The chief passes of the Carnic Alps are: