Mount Cran is set in the Ben Ohau Range of the Southern Alps and is situated in the Canterbury Region of the South Island.

Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,440 metres (4,724 feet) above Birch Hill Stream in two kilometres.

[3] The mountain's toponym honours Charles George Cran (1899–1985), who was well-known in the farming community, managed several high-country stations, and was an original member of the Land Settlement Board.

[5] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upward by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow.

The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.