Kelsey Peak is located 27 miles (43 km) southwest of downtown Salt Lake City and 6.5 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Tooele in the Oquirrh Mountains which are part of the Great Basin Ranges.

It ranks as the fourth-highest summit in the Oquirrh Mountains,[5] and eighth-highest in Tooele County.

This mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1976 by the United States Board on Geographic Names to honor Eli B. Kelsey (1819–1885), Tooele County legislator, prosecuting attorney, real estate dealer, mining owner and developer.

[4][2] Kelsey Peak is set within the Great Basin Desert which has hot summers and cold winters.

Due to the high elevation and aridity, temperatures drop sharply after sunset.