The name comes from the river Mangfall, whose tributaries, the Rottach, Weißach, Schlierach and Leitzach, drain large parts of the area and form an important drinking water reservoir for the city of Munich.

The highest peak in the Mangfalls is the Rotwand at 1.884 m above sea level (NN), one of the most popular local mountains for Munich's citizens at all times of the year.

The Wendelstein lies a few kilometres further northeast of the Rotwand, but is separated from it by a valley.

These and the other main peaks in the Mangfall Mountains are (sorted by height in metres (m) above Normalnull (NN): Like the Alps as a whole, the Mangfall Mountains were heavily affected by the last ice age (Würm glaciation).

For example, lakes like the Tegernsee, and the typical U-shaped valleys were formed by glaciers.