The Tusk is located in the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains and set on land managed by Tongass National Forest.

[2][3] Precipitation runoff and glacial meltwater from the mountain drains west to Berners Bay and Lynn Canal via the Gilkey River.

Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 5,450 feet (1,660 m) above the Battle Glacier in two miles (3.2 km).

[3][4] The first ascent of the summit was made on August 2, 1972, by Fred Beckey, John Rupley, Dave Beckstead, and Ray Ketcham via the upper Taku Glacier.

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