Whale Mountain, at 2,774 feet (846 m), is found at the northern end of the range about five miles east of Lobecks Pass.

The mountain range is horseshoe-shaped, with the open end facing eastward, toward the Colorado River.

Contained within the arms of the horseshoe is a large central valley with low rolling hills covered by dense stands of cholla and other cacti, ocotillo, and an occasional agave.

Viewed from the west, the strikingly light, almost white, color of the granite peaks contrast sharply with the rich green creosote and cactus-covered bajadas.

A few miles from the Colorado River, the mountains change dramatically from light-colored granite to dark red and gray volcanic spires and mesas.