It is situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, with precipitation runoff from the peak draining to Donner Lake.

Topographic relief is modest as the summit rises 2,100 feet (640 meters) above Donner Lake in 1.5 mile.

[3] The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the west slope of the peak, providing an approach from Donner Pass.

[6] This landform's toponym was officially adopted in October 1940 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, having appeared on an 1873 topographic map made by California Geological Survey.

As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range.