The park contains more than half of Brazil's remaining population of endangered southern muriqui, the largest primate in the Americas other than man.

The park's headquarters is in the Planalto region of the Upper Paranapanema River basin, in the municipalities of São Miguel Arcanjo and Capão Bonito.

[1] The area occupied by the park was divided into four forest reserves in 1941, named Carlos Botelho, Capão Bonito, Travessão and Sete Barras.

The objectives are to ensure full protection of fauna, flora and natural beauty, and to support education, recreational and scientific activities.

[2] Since its creation the park has attracted many researchers, mainly due to its position between two important river basins, its place in the Paranapiacaba ecological continuum, and the many endemic species it shelters.

[4] In November 2015 a section of the SP-139 Nequinho Fogaça Highway that passes through the park was inaugurated by state governor Geraldo Alckmin.

[8] In the highest parts of the park there are small areas of dense high montane rainforest and alpine meadows on shallow and stony soils.

[3] The park headquarters in São Miguel Arcanjo has an Environmental Education Center with a Zoology Museum and a library with many publications on ecology, animals and plants.

The Represa (Dam) trail follows winding paths and crosses streams through dense greenery, and is best visited with monitors who can interpret the environment.

[3] The 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi) Represa e Fornos (Dam and Furnaces) trail has medium difficulty, requires a guide, and takes about three and a half hours.