It is located in the Sierra Madre Occidental range in the south of the state of Durango.

[2] The valley of the San Pedro Mezquital River lies west of the reserve, and the Mexican Plateau to the north and east.

Conifer forests prevail at higher elevation, with species of pine (Pinus), Mexican Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var.

[3][4] The Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyii) and American black bear (Ursus americanus) had been extirpated from the reserve, but have been successfully reintroduced.

[5][6][7] Native birds include the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), and thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha).