The park contains both upper and lower falls on the Englishman River, connected by short hiking trails and bridges that are accessible year-round. The upper falls drop into a narrow canyon where the rock walls have been carved smooth by centuries of water. The lower falls are broader, tumbling over a wider ledge into a deep pool that has become one of Vancouver Island's most popular swimming holes. In summer, cliff jumpers launch themselves from ledges 15 to 20 feet above the water. The combination of accessible trails and dramatic scenery makes this one of the most visited provincial parks in the Parksville-Qualicum region.

The park covers 97 hectares and protects a mix of old-growth and second-growth forest. Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, and bigleaf maple form the canopy, creating the layered, cathedral-like forest structure that defines the Pacific Northwest. The old-growth trees are the survivors, the ones that escaped the logging that transformed most of Vancouver Island's lowland forests in the twentieth century. Second-growth stands fill the gaps, younger trees working their way toward a complexity that takes centuries to achieve. Walking the trails, the difference is visible: the old-growth sections are darker, denser, with thicker trunks and more understory.

In autumn, the Englishman River hosts one of nature's most determined migrations. Salmon return from the Pacific to spawn in the same gravel beds where they hatched years earlier, fighting upstream past the falls to reach their natal waters. Watching from the bridges above, visitors can see the fish holding in the current, resting before the next surge. The spawning run connects this small provincial park to the vast oceanic cycles of the North Pacific, a reminder that the river flowing through the canyon is not just scenery but habitat, part of a system that extends from the open ocean to the forest floor.

The park's campground offers 107 sites, most with vehicle access, that can be reserved during summer months. A large day-use area serves visitors who come for the afternoon rather than the weekend. In 2019, new trails were under development in partnership with a community group, expanding the park's network beyond the established routes to the falls. The park sits west of Parksville and borders the small community of Errington, making it an easy side trip from the coast. The Englishman River Regional Park lies downstream along the same river, offering additional trails for those who want to follow the water farther toward the sea.