The park was established on 26 August 1998 and had an area of 17,439.886 hectares (43,094.90 acres; 67.34 sq mi).

[4] On 23 July 2002, the area was changed slightly to 17,325.54 ha (42,812.34 acres; 66.89 sq mi).

[3][5][6] In the National Ecological Framework for Canada used by Environment and Climate Change Canada, the park is in the Luscar and Ram River Foothills ecodistricts of the Western Alberta Upland ecoregion in the Boreal Foothills ecoprovince of the Boreal Plains ecozone.

The Cardinal Divide, with an elevation of 2,025 m (6,644 ft), is the continental divide between two major watersheds: the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers, which eventually drain into the Arctic Ocean; and the Cardinal, Brazeau, and North Saskatchewan Rivers, which eventually drain into Hudson Bay.

[6] The Köppen climate classification of the park is Continental, Subarctic (Dfc) characterized by long, cold winters, and short, warm to cool summers.

The park also provides breeding habitat for harlequin ducks which are dependent on the fast-flowing mountain streams for nesting and rearing their young.

[6] Front country camping is available at the adjacent Whitehorse Creek Provincial Recreation Area.