The Mogollon Mountains of New Mexico lie just east, with a south-flowing section of the San Francisco River separating them.

The river then turns west, forming the southern border of the Sierra Aguilada, and continues to eventually intercept the Gila River after traversing northwest of the Big Lue Mountains of Arizona.

To the north and northwest lies the Blue Range Wilderness.

The east perimeter of the range is traversed by U.S. Route 180 in New Mexico as it parallels a north-south section of the San Francisco River.

The communities of Pleasanton and Glenwood lie on the east and northeast of the range along the San Francisco River.