The southern section consists of a series of closely gathered ridges, separated by precipitous creek gorges.
Most of the range is part of the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington National Forest and contains the Elizabeth Furnace and Camp Roosevelt recreational areas.
In 1971, the Massanutten Mountain ski lodge and four-season resort village was established near the southern peak.
Wildlife on Massanutten includes black bear, coyotes, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, timber rattlesnake, and luna moths.
Erosion of the Martinsburg shale in some areas of the mountain caused the sandstone to break and slide to form talus slopes.