The Klamath system are of the Pacific Coast Ranges series of mountain range systems that stretch along the West Coast of North America.

The Salmon range is within sections of the Klamath National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and Six Rivers National Forest and includes portions of the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, Russian Wilderness Area, and Marble Mountain Wilderness Area.

The Yurok and Hoopa Valley Indian Reservations are to the west.

California State Route 299 runs along the south of the range.

The Salmon Mountains are within the Klamath-Siskiyou forests — Klamath Mountains ecoregion, which is part of the Temperate coniferous forests biome.