The park sits atop a continental divide known as the Arctic Watershed. The thick, boreal forest is not as varied as similar forests elsewhere, due to a fire that ravaged the area in the early 1950s. The intense heat activated many seed-bearing pine cones to open, and today, the jack pine trees that resulted are all the same age and height. The woods shelter moose, fox, black bear, wolf, lynx, beaver, mink and muskrat. Loons, great blue herons, ruffed grouse, owls, and warblers are among the birdlife present.
All sites have a picnic table and fireplace.
Two comfort stations with showers are centrally located, and toilets and water taps are found throughout the campground. The campgrounds also contain picnic shelters, a laundromat, and you can purchase supplies and rent canoes at the gatehouse. Panagapka Lake has two sandy beaches and a playground. Canoeists will find that many of the lakes are close together and easily portaged. Canoe information is available at the gatehouse.