When seen from Talkeetna, Mount Hunter appears as a long broad peak. In reality, it is the steepest and most spectacular of the three great peaks in the Alaska Range, and the most difficult 14,000 foot peak in North America. Hunter's three summits, the North (14,570 feet), the Central (13,450 feet), and the South(13,966 feet) span a three mile wide plateau. The mountain is directly south of Denali, and stands entirely outside of Denali National Park Wilderness boundaries.

The West Ridge, featured in Fifty Classic Climbs in North America, is the most popular route, although fewer than half of the attempts reach the summit. Most of the other attempts are divided among the North Buttress (easy approach), the Kennedy-Lowe, and the Northeast Ridge. The rarely climbed Southwest Ridge is actually the safest and quickest route up the mountain.

It is uncommon for more than ten climbers a year to reach the summiy of Mount Hunter. Generally, no more than twenty teams, or fewer than fifty climbers, attempt the mountain per year. Because of the attractioin of Denali's height, this stunning and beautiful "little" mountain is overlooked. Solitude is virtually guaranteed on Mount Hunter.