Basin City is located in northwestern Franklin County at (46.591416, -119.149325). As the name implies, it lies in a basin. The land west of the town slopes gradually downward for about then rises abruptly by about at Basin Hill. Basin Hill extends about southwest of town to the Columbia River, where it forms the southern extent of the White Bluffs for which the town of White Bluffs was named. Basin Hill also extends to the north, where it is called Sage Hill and then rises a bit higher at Radar Hill, named for an old World War II radar base installed at the peak. A little further to the northwest lie the Saddle Mountains. The tallest peak visible from Basin City is Rattlesnake Mountain, about to the southwest on the opposite side of the Columbia River. However, from the top of nearby Basin Hill it is possible to see Mount Rainier, which lies approximately to the west in the Cascade Range. Bailie's Lake, a small lake formed by irrigation runoff, lies to the northwest of town and provides opportunities for fishing and hunting.