Auburn's topography is characterized by a flat valley floor bordered by significant plateaus and hills. The majority of the city's commercial, industrial, and historic downtown areas sit on this flat alluvial plain at an elevation of roughly 80 to 90 feet above sea level.
To the west, the land rises steeply to form "West Hill," an escarpment that separates the Green River Valley from the neighboring city of Federal Way. To the east, the terrain climbs more gradually but extensively up to "Lea Hill" and the Cascade foothills, where elevations can reach between 400 and 500 feet. The Green River meanders through the northern and central parts of the valley, while the White River cuts across the southern portion before joining the Puyallup River system.
