The Tooth is an igneous rock intrusion of dacite porphyry, thought to have been formed in the Tertiary period of the Cenozoic era some 12-20 million years ago. The Tooth is located about five miles southwest of Cimarron, New Mexico on the Philmont Scout Ranch.

Over the years, it has come to symbolize Philmont and is one of its most popular sights. It is easily seen from the road, Rte. 21, once part of the Santa Fe trail, that passes in front of Philmont's headquarters.

The Tooth rises prominently from the valley floor, some 2,500 feet below, creating a sheer vertical face. During the late 1800's, it was well-known among the overland traders and settlers on the Santa Fe Trail, who used it to mark the final three week push to Santa Fe further to the west. It was thought that once they had made it past the Tooth, their journy was about to be over.