[3] The mountain is located within the Mount Charleston Wilderness and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

It takes its name from its vague resemblance to a mummy, or perhaps more accurately an Egyptian sarcophagus seen in profile, with the "head" to the north formed by outcropping above Lee Canyon, the gently rounded main summit forming the "body", and a southern rise and cliffs forming the "feet", called "Mummy's Toe".

The most common route to the summit is from the North Loop Trail or Trail Canyon[5] to Mount Charleston, starting from where it reaches close to the top of the ridge between Mummy Mountain and Mount Charleston.

After the first two switchbacks, a steep scramble up a scree slope reaches the top of the ridge, where a faint climber's trail leads east to the base of the summit cliffs.

The route then jogs north to a class 3 chute leading to the broad and flat summit plateau.