Wunambal people have lived in the area for many thousands of years, practising their culture based on Wandjina (to whom they refer as Gulingi) and Wunggurr lore and law.

[3] The park was formed in 2000 without the consent of the traditional owners or following proper procedure under the Native Title Act 1993.

[10] The government had started on negotiations with traditional owners with a view to creating a huge protected area which would lie next to the already-planned Great Kimberley Marine Park.

[13][14] The Mitchell Plateau, according to Pew Outback, "is the only part of mainland Australia where no native species extinctions have occurred".

[2] The park is biologically significant and contains over 50 species of mammal, 220 birds and 86 amphibians and reptiles, including the saltwater crocodile, king brown snake and taipan.

[3] The monjon (a small rock wallaby) and the rough-scaled python live in sandstone areas of the plateau.

[3] Other important species include the dugong, flatback turtle, northern quoll, scaly-tailed possum, and the golden-backed tree rat.

[3] Mitchell River National Park has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) with warm temperatures present year round.