From a point near the Clark Fork River and the city of Missoula, they run in a southerly direction for a distance of approximately 60 miles (100 km), making up much of the border between Ravalli County (to the west) and Granite County.

The range is bisected by just two roads, Route 38 at 7250 foot (2210 m) Skalkaho Pass and FS80 at Lutz Creek.

[1] The Sapphires contain three large National Forest roadless areas, in addition to the officially protected Welcome Creek Wilderness.

This area is characterized by thousands of acres of sliderock or talus slopes, and extensive Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine forests rising to open, glaciated ridges.

[3] There is some dispute as to whether the Quigg Peak area is part of the Sapphires or the adjacent John Long Mountains.