Toubkal National Park covers 380 square kilometres of the western High Atlas, with Imlil near its northern gateway. Established in 1942, it protects a landscape of extraordinary vertical range: from walnut orchards and terraced wheat fields at 1,700 metres to the bare scree and permanent snowfields above 4,000 metres. Within that range the vegetation shifts from Mediterranean scrub through juniper and cedar forests to alpine meadows and the near-barren high summit zone.
The park is traversed by a network of mule paths connecting Amazigh villages that have farmed the valley floors for centuries. Multi-day treks — two to five days — can cross the park from north to south or east to west, linking Imlil with the Azzaden valley, the M'Goun massif, or the Ourika valley. Most routes are well-marked at major junctions and require only basic navigation skills in summer; in winter and spring, snow can make the passes serious undertakings. Wildlife is modest by African standards but includes golden eagles, barbary partridge, and Atlas mountain viper.