The Big Sandy drainage basin covers approximately in Mohave, La Paz, and Yavapai counties. The Hualapai Mountains are west of the river, and the Aquarius and Mohon Mountains lie to the east and southeast, the Juniper Mountains further east, and the Peacock Mountains and Cottonwood Mountains to the north. Hualapai Peak at is the highest point in the basin. The river flows through the Arrastra Mountain Wilderness.