The Sierra begins at the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park in Texas and extends southeast for about 70 miles (100 km), reaching a maximum elevation of 2,074 metres (6,804 ft).

At its northernmost point near the Rio Grande, the Sierra is about 15 miles (20 km) wide and has a maximum elevation of about 3,000 feet (900 m).

Among the fauna are the elk and American black bear, both endangered species in Mexico, except for the Sierra del Burro where they are still found in fair numbers, but considered at risk.

The Sierra del Burro and an area extending slightly southward for decades has been recognized by meteorologists using satellite and radar data as a region of consistent and intense supercell activity, orographically influenced by the Sierra, and annually producing significant tornadoes and hail.

[citation needed] The Sierra del Burro is outside the boundaries of the binational El Carmen-Big Bend Conservation Corridor Initiative, but local ranchers, fearing fragmentation of their lands, have formed a group called CONECO to preserve their ranching heritage and promote wildlife and habitat preservation.