The park is part of the 6,205 km2 McIlwraith and Iron Ranges an Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by BirdLife International because it is one of the few known sites for the endangered buff-breasted buttonquail.

[2] Notable species include the green tree python, spotted cuscus, bare-rumped sheathtail bat, and estuarine crocodile.

The park represents one of the most diverse protected areas in Australia for butterflies, ants, ferns, orchids and palms.

In March 1940, Val Augenson of the Department of Civil Aviation inspected a possible site for an Emergency Landing Ground for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

They reported that a fairly extensive site just to the west of Iron Range and east of the Claudie River was suitable for the construction of several airfields.

[4] On 7 June 1942, an advance party of the US 46 Engineer General Service Regiment and 26 Operational Base Unit RAAF boarded the SS Wandana in Townsville headed for Portland Roads.