Some of Alberta's best freshwater fish fossils have been found in a coulee near Big Valley Stream that enters the canyon from the east. On the west side of the park is the forty-five meter high cliff face that still holds bone fragments from ancient Native buffalo hunts. Pottery fragments, Indian graves and fire pits have been found at the bottom of the jump where Native hunters drove the buffalo over the cliffs to their death. Long ago, buffalo and wild horses roamed the canyon. Lush fescue grows on Dry Island but silver berry, buffalo berry, buckbrush, wildrose, pin cherry, willows, hawthorn and cinqufoil shrubs grow throughout the canyon.
Junipers grow on the uplands.
In the valley near the river, you can find shrubs and poplar. On the northeast side, there are willows, balsam poplar and aspens. Long eared and small-footed bats live in caves that line the canyon. Mule deer and badger graze here all year long. The river contains an abundance of fish including spotted shine, northern pike, redhorse, goldeneye and lake chub.