[6] With an elevation of 12,633 feet (3,851 m),[1] it is located within the Kachina Peaks Wilderness in the Coconino National Forest, about 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Flagstaff, Arizona.

[7] Humphreys Peak is a dormant volcano that rises from the San Francisco Volcanic Field.

During the ice ages of the Pleistocene Epoch, small glaciers carved narrow valleys just below the summit.

Due to its prominence and isolation, Mt Humphreys is often subject to lightning, especially during the monsoon months in the summer.

Additionally, the upper half of the mountain is above the treeline and composed of steep rocks, making hikers more exposed to sudden changes in weather.