It lies in the Canadian Rockies foothills, north of the Highwood River, at an elevation of 1,215 m (3,986 ft), and is the centre of the Pekisko Rangeland, an area of livestock grazing and agriculture.

The name Pekisko originates from the Blackfoot language i ta pisko, meaning rolling foothills.

[1] The Pekisko Formation (Mississippian limestone) of the Rundle Group was named after this community.

Like other subpolar climates, summers are short and lukewarm, but while typically sub-freezing, winters average out to be fairly mild, being considered "maritime subarctic" (Eo) according to the Trewartha climate classification system.

Like at lower elevations in the Canadian Prairies, precipitation peaks in late spring and summer, but Pekisko experiences significantly more than those elevations due to the orographic effect, and it is also significantly less seasonal.