[3] It is situated immediately east of the Muldrow Glacier terminus, 3.5 mi (6 km) south of Eielson Visitor Center, and 3.9 mi (6 km) north of Red Mountain, its nearest higher neighbor.

Originally called Copper Mountain, this mountain was renamed by the U.S. Congress on June 14, 1930, to honor Carl Ben Eielson (1897–1929), for the pioneering work in aviation he performed in Alaska.

[4] Ben Eielson made the first airplane landing near Copper Mountain in Mount McKinley National Park, as it was known at that time.

[3] Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Eielson is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.

The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing.