Neighboring ranges and landforms include the Tularosa Basin, immediately to the west of the main section of the range; Sierra Blanca and the Capitan Mountains to the northwest and northeast; the Border Hills and the western edge of the broad Pecos River valley to the east; the Guadalupe Mountains to the southeast; and Otero Mesa, which lies south of the main section and southwest of the southeastern section.

The western edge of the main section of the Sacramento Mountains forms a series of dramatic escarpments leading up to a high ridge, which includes the highest named point in the range, Cathey Peak, 9,645 feet (2,940 m).

Unlike the Sacramento Mountains, the neighboring Sierra Blanca is an extrusive igneous complex.

Precipitation (mostly in winter) on the high elevations of the mountains provide most of the groundwater recharge in the Roswell Artesian Basin.

There are numerous hiking trails in the portion of the range that lies within the Lincoln National Forest, there is officially designated wilderness.