[8] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's south slope drains to North St. Vrain Creek via Hunters Creek and the north slope drains to Glacier Creek which is a tributary of the Big Thompson River.

Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,940 feet (590 meters) above Green Lake in one-half mile.

The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1911 by the United States Board on Geographic Names and is so named because the mountain's shape resembles a pagoda.

[5] According to the Köppen climate classification system, Pagoda Mountain is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters and cool to warm summers.

[9] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring.