Construction of the path began at Market Cross, Karamea, in 1876, but it was not completed all the way to Fenian Creek until 1904.

The track passes through mixed beech-podocarp and beech forest typical of the area, and features the karst geology of the region.

Forest birds like kererū, kākā, bellbirds, South Island robins, grey warblers, brown creepers, and weka are moderately common.

This is also one of the few places where the large carnivorous landsnail Powelliphanta annectens can be found, as predators have driven it extinct in most other areas.

The return trip to Fenian Creek including the Caves Loop takes about four hours.