The park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley.

Hell's Gate National Park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley.

[2] The park is located 14 kilometres (9 mi) after the turnoff from the old Nairobi-Naivasha highway, and has a warm and dry climate.

[2] Olkaria and Hobley's, two extinct volcanoes located in the park, can be seen as well as obsidian forms from the cool molten lava.

[8] Hyraxes,[6] African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson's gazelle, hyena, and baboons are also common.

[7] The park is also home to serval and small numbers of klipspringer antelope and Chanler's mountain reedbuck.

[12] As of 2019, a significant part of the Hell's Gate National Park has turned into an industrial area, with many pipelines, power plants and busy tarmac roads.