Peril Peak is located 30 miles (48 km) east of Anchorage in the western Chugach Mountains.

Although modest in elevation, topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,500 feet (762 m) above the Eklutna Glacier in 0.25 mi (0.40 km).

The peak was so named in 1963 by the members of the Mountaineering Club of Alaska because of the danger and difficulty involved in climbing it.

[4] The first ascent of the summit was made on May 23, 1964, by Gregg Erickson, Helga Bading, Jim Frazer, and Hans Van der Laan, from the south.

[10] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall.