The main path was originally made to serve Red Crag Mine, which now consists of a series of pits and trial borings for iron ore, concentrated about 300 metres (980 ft) north of the tarn.

[3] Pike o' Blisco itself consists of the steep, conical summit area above Red Tarn along with a swathe of hilly country spreading out to the south and east.

The eastern part of the fell is centred upon the subsidiary top of Blake Rigg at around 530 metres (1,740 ft) in an area of rocky outcrops and small tarns.

This pass, narrow and steep even by Lake District standards, links the two Langdales and is named after the large tarn which sits beneath the eastern crags of Blake Rigg.

One goes via Stool End farm at the foot of Bowfell; from here it follows the public footpath over the Oxendale Beck and up to Red Tarn, at around 525 metres (1,720 ft) above sea level, before ascending Pike o' Blisco's steep west face.

An alternative route from this direction, recommended by Wainwright, involves scrambling up a gully in the crags above the valley head, then walking across pathless terrain to the summit.