[3] Topographic relief is significant as the northwest aspect rises 1,800 feet (550 meters) above Izaak Walton Lake in approximately one mile.

This mountain's toponym was proposed in 1919 by Francis P. Farquhar and officially adopted in 1926 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to honor Izaak Walton (1593–1683), an English writer best known as the author of The Compleat Angler.

[8][4] The connection being that the mountain is set at the head of Fish Creek and Izaak Walton was an avid fisherman.

The first ascent of the summit was made July 5, 1971, by Andy Smatko, Bill Schuler, and Ed Treacy.

As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range.