The range extends from Marshall Pass southwest 50 miles (80 km) along the winding crest of the divide to Saguache Park.

The peaks in the adjacent Sawatch Range to the northeast and the San Juan Mountains to the southwest are higher with elevations over 13,000 feet (3,962 m).

Today, the Cochetopa Hills are traversed by one paved road, Colorado Highway 114, which crosses the divide at North Pass.

[5][6] The Cochetopa Hills are dominated by Tertiary volcanic rocks, including lavas, ash flow tuffs, and breccias.

[7][8] After major eruptions emptied the magma chamber below these volcanoes, the overlying rock could collapse and produce a sunken crater called a caldera.