Galehead is flanked to the east by South Twin Mountain, and to the west by Mount Garfield.

The summit is reached by the Frost Trail which departs from Galehead Hut (operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club).

There are several ways to reach the hut from one's car, the Gale River Trail from the northwest being the most direct.

Galehead is so named because it is located above the headwaters of the North Branch of the Gale River.

The Appalachian Trail, a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) National Scenic Trail from Georgia to Maine, crosses the northern face of Galehead, 0.2 mi (0.3 km) north — and 400 feet (120 m) below — the summit.