It is bordered on the northeast by the San Andreas Fault, the San Benito River and State Route 25 which separate it from the Diablo Range to the east; and on the west by the Salinas Valley, the Salinas River and U.S. Route 101 which separate it from the Santa Lucia Range nearer the Pacific Coast.

[5] The northern limit of the Gabilan Range lies just south of Pinecate Peak[6] and San Juan Bautista, California.

[7] According to the USGS GNIS, GPS coordinates for the southern border of the Gabilan Range follow Chalone Creek[8] which enters the Salinas River east of Greenfield, California.

The Gabilan Mountains and other nearby places are mentioned in several novels by John Steinbeck, such as Of Mice and Men and East of Eden.

[15] The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has protected the first block of land intended to protect the Santa Cruz Mountains-Gabilan Range Wildlife Corridor, the 2,640 acres (4.13 sq mi) Rocks Ranch in Aromas at the border of San Benito and Monterey counties.