The park protects 39,819.08 hectares (98,395.1 acres),[1] surrounding Mexico's second- and third-highest peaks, the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes (respectively 5,426 m (17,802 ft)[3] and 5,230 m (17,160 ft))[4][5][6] as well as the area of the Hacienda de Zoquiapán, and its annexed areas (anexas) of Zoquiapan, Ixtlahuacán, and the Frío de Juárez River.

The valley of Río Frío, where Mexican Federal Highway 150 between Mexico City and Puebla passes through the park, is the northern end of the Sierra Nevada.

Pinus hartwegii is the predominant tree, with Ribes ciliatum, Lupinus montanus, Acaena elongata, and the grasses Festuca spp.

[8] Areas above 4350 meters, which include the peaks of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, are mostly barren rock and permanent ice and snow.

[8] 48 species of wild mammals have been recorded in the park, including bobcats (Lynx rufus) coyotes (Canis latrans), foxes, American badgers (Taxidea taxus berlandieri), skunks, racoons, bats, rabbits, gophers, squirrels, mice, and shrews.

The endangered volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) lives in high-elevation grasslands on four central Mexican volcanic peaks, including Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl.

Resident birds include the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis formosus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), long-tailed wood partridge (Dendrortyx macroura), white-naped swift (Streptoprocne semicollaris), Aztec thrush (Ridgwayia pinicola), Sierra Madre sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi), bumblebee hummingbird (Selasphorus heloisa), gray-barred wren (Campylorhynchus megalopterus), spotted wren (Campylorhynchus gularis), russet nightingale-thrush (Catharus occidentalis), rufous-backed thrush (Turdus rufopalliatus), ocellated thrasher (Toxostoma ocellatum), blue mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens), and Striped sparrow (Oriturus superciliosus).

[2] The decree established the park's lower boundary at the 3000-meter contour, excluding the town of Río Frío de Juárez.