It is located some 175 kilometres (109 mi) to the southwest of the state capital, Chihuahua City.

Creel was historically a logging town, although tourism has become the primary job source over the last 20 years because it is close to the Copper Canyon as well as Basaseachic Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Mexico.

[4] For many years before its completion the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico line ended at Creel.

Creel's high altitude gives it a cool subtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classification Cwb), characterised by mild days and cold nights with frost occurring most mornings from October to April, though daytime temperatures in those months remain comfortable.

Precipitation during the winter is not infrequent, but snowfalls are not particularly common, occurring on average only four days per year (more frequently on the nearby mountain peaks).