Its nearest higher peak is Mount Bonney, 1.0 km (0.62 mi) to the west.

[3] The mountain was named in 1895 by Messrs. Abbot, Fay, and Thompson, for the Reverend Henry Swanzy, who with the Reverend William Spotswood Green introduced the world to the Selkirk Mountains following their 1888 first ascents of Mount Bonney and others.

[4] The first ascent of the mountain was made in 1900 by Arthur Michael, Sydney Spencer, Edouard Feuz Sr, and Friedrich Michel.

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

Precipitation runoff from the mountain and meltwater from the surrounding glaciers drains north into the Illecillewaet River, or south into the Incomappleux River.