Discovered in 1923 by Harvard professor Kirtley Fletcher Mather, the mountain was named for the geologist's alma mater, Denison University.

[3] The mountain's connection to Denison also include its first climbers: all members of the first two ascent teams as well as the group that attempted in 1977 were either students, alumni, or faculty of the university.

Mount Denison is located at the end of a volcanic chain in a heavily glaciated and very remote section[4] of Katmai National Park.

It is possibly the tallest mountain in the national park, though some sources list Mount Griggs as the highest.

[5][6] Mount Griggs, on the other hand, is much more accessible, being next to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, which can be reached via the road from the national park's visitor center.