Quail Mountain is set approximately seven miles (11 km) east of the Continental Divide in the Collegiate Peaks which are a subrange of the Sawatch Range.

The mountain is located four miles (6.4 km) southwest of Twin Lakes on land managed by San Isabel National Forest.

The highest peak in Colorado, Mount Elbert, rises 6.84 miles (11.01 km) to the north-northwest of Quail Mountain.

[4] 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.

Climbers can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.