Archaeological studies in the Bathurst Island area indicate occasional human use over the past 4500 years by prehistoric as well as historic Dorset and Thule Inuit.

Human use was primarily in the southern and eastern part of Bathurst Island, rather than within the proposed park area itself.

The lands on northern Bathurst Island were first withdrawn for the purpose of establishing a national park in 1996.

In 2015, the federal government introduced a bill to create the park, which received approval on June 24.

[6] The park geology is composed primarily of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, sandstone and dolomite.

[8] Plants include purple saxifrage, dwarf willow, sedges, grasses, lichens and mosses.

[7] Terrestrial wildlife species adapted to this environment include Peary caribou, muskoxen, wolves, Arctic foxes and bird species such as snowy owls, snow geese, king eiders, jaegers as well as various gulls and shorebirds.