A geologic trough is a linear structural depression that extends laterally over a distance. Although it is less steep than a trench, a trough can be a narrow basin or a geologic rift. These features often form at the rim of tectonic plates.

In this instance when the geologic trough is found in a larger basin, such as this trough is found within the Great Basin desert, the geologic trough is usually the bottom of the larger basin and is composed of multiple dry lake beds, often which lake beds are alkali lakes.

The Walker Lane geologic trough is a narrow depression that elongates along both sides of the California-Nevada border beginning in the north near where these two states meet the state of Oregon and continuing southward to Death Valley.

This geologic trough includes several basin lakes and valleys along this two state border, which include in:

California: Goose Lake, Upper Alkali Lake, Middle Lake, Lower Lake, Moon Lake, Eagle Lake, Honey Lake, Mono Lake, Long Valley Caldera, Owens Lake and Death Valley.

Nevada: NW Nevada volcanic field, Pyramid Lake, Carson Lake, Walker Lake, Mud Lake, Amargosa Valley, Yucca Mountain