[6][7] Ivvavik contains the British Mountains which run east to west, parallel to the Arctic coast, and merge into the Brooks Range in Alaska.

The river starts from year-round aufeis formations at the headwaters and then flows through extensive canyon areas before forming a huge delta as it enters the Beaufort Sea just west of Herschel Island.

[citation needed] The park contains many cultural sites of continuing importance to the local indigenous people.

Protecting a portion of the calving grounds of the caribou herd, the park allows only a minimal number of people to visit per year.

Other animals that inhabit this park include two species of fox, Yukon moose, lemmings, Dall sheep, gyrfalcons, muskoxen, and wolverines.