Its eastern part was named the Savinja Alps (Sanntaler Alpen) or Solčava Alps (Sulzbacher Alpen) by the mountaineer Johannes von Frischauf in 1875, after the settlement of Solčava (Sulzbach) and the main river, the upper Savinja (Sann).

The Kamnik–Savinja Alps are located south of the Karawanks range at the border of Austria and Slovenia, stretching from the Sava River in the west to the Savinja in the east, where the adjacent Slovenian Prealps with the Pohorje range, the Celje Hills at the Dravinja River, as well as the Sava Hills are located.

Historically it formed the border between the Inner Austrian duchies of Carinthia, Styria, and Carniola.

About three-quarters of the area is covered with forest, and many of the higher peaks are bleak and rocky.

On the Slovenian side, there is a skiing area, whereas tourism in the Vellach Valley focuses on health spas.