The peaks of the range are easily visible from U.S. Route 160, which skirts the range on the south. The La Plata River and the Mancos River have their headwaters in the range. The Colorado Trail accesses even towards the northern peaks.
The best-known and highest peak in the La Plata Mountains is Hesperus Mountain, which is the Navajosacred mountain of the north. The seven highest summits are listed below.