The region consists of mountain ranges, which have the shape of numerous, round humps cut through by deep river valleys. In the area of the Beskidy mountains, the peaks reach heights of over 1500 meters a.s.l (Babia Gora - 1725 m and Pilsko – 1557 m a.s.l).

There are one to five landscape levels in this region with the average yearly temperature decreasing with the height (from +8°C in the region of the foot-hills to -2°C in the vicinity of Babia Gora). The yearly rainfall amounts from 800 to 1300 mm. The influence of the oceanic climate is stronger in the western part of the region and continental climate is stronger in the eastern part making winters longer.

The flora of the Outer Carpathians is not especially rich. It consists of around 1000 species of vascular plants. In order to protect those plants 3 National Parks, 2 Landscape Parks and over 60 nature reserves have been established in this region.

Within Polish borders Outer West Carpathians can be divided into four macroregions: Pogorze Zachodniobeskidzkie (Western Beskidy Foothills), Western Beskidy, Pogorze Srdokowobeskidzkie (Central Beskidy Foothills), Beskidy Srodkowe (Central Beskidy).

Pogorze Zachodniobeskidzkie is located on the area of 1,8 thousand sq km. It is a 150 km long zone with a width varying from a couple to over a dozen kilometers. The heights reach 500 m a.s.l. The region is densely populated and highly agricultural with small patches of forests on the mountaintops.

Beskidy Zachodnie are the biggest part of the Outer West Carpathians with its Polish part occupying the area of 5,7 thousand sq km. This region stretches over the 250 km long and 50 km wide area with heights varying from 700 to 1500 m a.s.l. Depending on the height in different parts of the mountains you can distinguish there two to five landscape levels.

Pogorze Srodkowobeskidzkie stretches on the area of 6,4 thousand sq km. It is a range of hills and valleys, several dozen kilometers in width and with heights reaching 500 m a.s.l. The region is cut through the valleys of rivers Biala, Wisloka and San. This area is densely populated especially in the valleys and has only small patches of the forest.

Beskidy Srodkowe are located on 2,1 thousand sq km within Polish borders. This mountain range stretches on the 100 km long area which width varies from 30 to 40 kilometers. The highest peaks reach 1000 m a.s.l.