Part of the larger group of Southern California's Transverse Ranges, much of The Little San Bernardino Mountains lies within Joshua Tree National Park. The Keys View exhibit resides near their south east border, overlooking the Coachella Valley. Further south east, they are bounded by the adjacent Cottonwood Mountains, and the east extent is flanked by the Hexie Mountains.
If accessing the Mojave Desert via CA Route 62 east, the south west margins of the Little San Bernardino Mountains can be observed cradling the city of Desert Hot Springs. Further east approaching Morongo Valley, the western boundary separates the larger San Bernardino Mountains. This border roughly follows through Yucca Valley, with the Little San Bernardino Mountains' northern limits integrating with Yucca Valley South. Pioneertown demarcates the border of the (big) San Bernardino Mountains. The town of Joshua Tree, through indian cove, also sit within the Little San Bernardino Mountains. The entrance to 49 Palms Canyon, and the southern edge of 29 Palms are adjacent to the Pinto Mountains. If crossing into the National Park from the 29 Palms North Entrance Station, heading southward on Utah trail will display the 29 Palms Mountains (a sub division of the Pinto Mountains) on the left (east) side, and the Pinto Mountains on the right (west).
Inside the protective perimiter of the Park, the Little San Bernardo Mountains Host many exhibits, including Keys View. Other presentations of note are Skull Rock, Split Rock, Live Oak, Boy Scout Trail, Ryan Mountain, and more. Plant communities within the range are various, overlapping, and display portions of Mojavean Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Chaparral, Joshua Tree Woodland, Oak Woodland, and several others. The rocks of the Little San Bernardinos are mostly ganitic.
