[3] The mountain is situated on the western boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park and the west side of the peak is in the Never Summer Wilderness, on land managed by Arapaho National Forest.

Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains into headwaters of the Colorado River except for a portion of which is diverted by the Grand Ditch.

Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 3,500 feet (1,100 meters) above the Kawuneeche Valley in three miles (4.8 km) and 2,400 feet (730 meters) above Baker Gulch in 0.6 mile (1 km).

The mountain is named for John R. Baker who made the first ascent of the summit in 1875.

[9] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring.