Mount Sopris (12,953 ft) sits at the northwest end of the range and dominates the skyline of the lower Roaring Fork Valley and the town of Carbondale, Colorado, serving as an unofficial symbol of the area.

In the late 19th century, the western and southern flank of the range became the site of intense coal mining activity which continues to the present day.

Quarried marble was used to create The Tomb of the Unknowns, the Lincoln Memorial, Denver Post Office and other buildings.

The range receives a great deal of snowfall due to its position to the west of the continental divide and the westerly origin of many winter storms.

This is exploited by the ski areas in the vicinity of Aspen, which are located on the flanks of smaller mountains alongside the Roaring Fork Valley.