South Mountain is a continuation of the New England Province and is the southern end of the Hudson Highlands.

This makes it a beautiful backdrop to the viewpoints of the Lehigh Valley, including, at night, the city lights of Allentown.

The southern end of the mountain extends west along U.S. Route 422 and the southeastern border of Berks County, providing views of Blue Mountain to the north, and Mount Penn, which comprises part of the prong and the city of Reading to the east.

The southernmost peaks were at one time home to many exclusive sanitariums and resorts, now all defunct except for the Caron Foundation.

South Mountain serves as the transmitter site for several local radio and television stations, including the independent television station WFMZ-TV, which maintains both its transmitter and studio facilities on the mountain, south of Allentown.