Chno Dearg has a considerable topographic prominence of 649 metres, being surrounded by the deep glens of Glen Spean, Loch Treig and Strath Ossian, and its summit is a fine viewpoint especially for the Creag Meagaidh group of hills to the Northeast. Another feature of the mountain is its appeal to the ski mountaineer, with its sweeping northern slopes offering a continuous five km run with 750 metres of descent from the summit. The mountains name translates from the Gaelic as Red Nut, however early maps give the name as Cnoc Dearg which translates as Red Hill and this is the correct name. The red refers to the profusion of heather on the hill.