The south end of the valley expands slightly northwest-by-southeast, and contains Danby Dry Lake, a 13-mi (21 km) long dry lake, or playa.

The Iron Mountains with the Iron Mountain Pump Plant of the Colorado River Aqueduct lie on the southwest margin of the valley.

Geographically, the entire region of Ward Valley is a transition from higher-elevation bajadas and mountain ranges of the Mojave Desert to lower-elevation sections of Mojave Desert- and the northwest region of the Sonoran Desert in southeast California, called the Colorado Desert.

The region has mostly arid mountain ranges, bajadas, flatlands, sand dune fields (from prevailing, seasonal winds), and playas (salt flats).

The lengthy north section of Ward Valley is drained by one major wash, named Homer Wash. Its outfall end, due to scant rainfall, and distance from Danby Lake, ends about 5 mi (8.0 km) from the north side of the lake, as a result of ground infiltration.