The state park covers 265 acres (107 ha) at the northern end of Rainbow Canyon in an area that was homesteaded in 1873.

In 1904, they sold the property to rancher James Ryan, who donated the land to the state in 1926 to be a public park.

[5] A flash flood in 1984 destroyed most of the park's facilities, including the stone caretaker's cabin built by the CCC.

[6] The trail system was expanded by 3.28 miles by the Great Basin Institute between August 2018 and late 2019.

Hikers can explore the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) Canyon Overlook Trail and shorter Rattlesnake Loop.