[1] It is situated on land managed by Gallatin National Forest and can be seen from Highway 287.

Precipitation runoff from the mountain's east slope drains into Cabin Creek and the west slope drains into Beaver Creek, which are both tributaries of the nearby Madison River.

Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,400 feet (732 meters) above Beaver Creek in 0.85 miles (1.37 km).

Boat Mountain is set two miles north of Hebgen Lake, site of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake which was the largest and deadliest in Montana's recorded history.

The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.