The topography is rugged, with numerous steep slopes and deep gullies.

The vegetation consists mainly of open forest, woodland and scrub associations dominated by Eucalyptus cladocalyx, E. baxteri, E. diversifolia and E. cosmophylla.

[7] The land under protection first gained protected area status as the Western River National Park proclaimed on 21 January 1971 under the National Parks Act 1966 in respect to land in sections 8 and 47 in the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Gosse.

[5] The following qualities have been identified by the government agency managing the wilderness protection area:[10] While there are some relatively minor impacts of modern technology, the area has distinctive wilderness attributes and warrants protection and restoration in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

In addition to its rugged terrain and high coastal cliffs that are characteristic of the northern coast of Kangaroo Island, Western River Wilderness Protection Area is highly valued for the presence of habitat for the endangered Glossy Black-cockatoo.