This mountain is part of the Aleutian Range,[4] and it is set within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

[5] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,670 feet (509 meters) above Lake de Marie in approximately one mile (1.6 km).

[7] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1936 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

[5] The Aleutian shield fern found only on this mountain was listed as an endangered species in 1988.

[8] According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Reed is located in a subpolar oceanic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.