[3] The park is home to a famous, 157-hectare (390-acre) stand of ancient Douglas fir, known as Cathedral Grove, which draws visitors from all over the world.

The park is home to several species of birds, including owls and woodpeckers; as well as such mammals as deer, black bear, elk and cougar.

[6] The name "Cathedral Grove" is reputed to have originated from the Governor General of Canada, the Viscount Willingdon, in 1928, and appeared in correspondence to the provincial government in the 1920s.

Logging of the remainder of the valley upstream of the park throughout the late 20th century resulted in significant damage to the forest adjacent to the Cameron River.

[10][11] Visitor parking has traditionally been along both sides of the narrow highway just west of the Cameron River bridge, a condition that by the 1990s was judged to be dangerous for tour buses, cars, and loaded logging trucks.