Whaleback Mountain is more notable for its steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation as topographic relief is significant with the summit rising 625 meters (2,050 ft) above Little Yoho River in 1.5 km (0.93 mi).

[2] The nearest higher neighbor is Isolated Peak, 0.9 km (0.56 mi) to the northwest.

[2] The mountain's descriptive name was then applied in 1916 by members of the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Survey.

[1] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on March 31, 1924, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.

[4] Whaleback Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.