[3] It is situated five miles southwest of the community of Ouray, on land managed by Uncompahgre National Forest.

Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises 2,000 feet (610 meters) above Sneffels Creek in less than one mile.

The mountain's name, which has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, was in use before 1899 when Henry Gannett published it in A Dictionary of Altitudes in the United States.

[5] 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.

Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Uncompahgre River.