Numerous seabird species and marine mammals can be easily viewed from skiff or kayak. The park's shoreline includes medium to coarse gravel and cobble beaches interspersed with steep rock cliffs. Driftwood Bay SMP, the largest of the area's marine parks at 1,480 acres, offers excellent mountain views and wildlife viewing opportunities. Driftwood Bay SMP is a popular fair-weather anchorage for recreational boaters and offers good protection from Day Harbor's often rough seas. Fishing for saltwater fish species is popular in Driftwood Bay and Day Harbor.
Fresh water is limited to runoff during wet weather.
The park's 960 acres include the cove's marine environment and an upland spruce, hemlock and alder forest. An attractive geologic feature of this park is a three-acre fresh water lake just above a gravel storm berm at the head of the cove. Safety Cove SMP offers excellent beach camping as well as safe anchorage for recreational boats. Upland exploration is also an appealing activity in the park, with excellent views of Ellsworth Glacier, an arm of the Sargent Icefield, near the cove's entrance. Fresh water can be taken from the lake at the head of the cove.