A mountain which represents a northern extension of Creag Meagaidh in the Lochaber district of Highland Council Area, Carn Dearg rises to 888m (2913 feet) 4½ miles (7 km) north of Moy in Glen Spean and 7½ miles (12 km) west of Kinloch Laggan. Loch Roy, the source of the River Roy, lies in a corrie to the east.
Confusingly, although perhaps not surprisingly given that the name simply means "red hill" in Gaelic, there are several other Carn Deargs in the vicinity; one reaching 768m / 2519 feet 4½ miles (7.5 km) to the northwest, another which rises to 834m / 2736 feet 6 miles (10 km), also northwest, a third which reaches 834m (2736 feet) 4½ miles (7 km) west, a fourth which reaches 736m (2414 feet) 7 miles (11 km) to the northeast and a fifth which reaches 1034m (3392 feet) 10 miles (16 km) southeast.