Asir National Park protects a 4,500-square-kilometre section of the Asir highlands, encompassing the full range of the escarpment from mountain summit to coastal plain. The park's environmental diversity is extraordinary for Saudi Arabia: juniper and wild olive forests grow on the heights; acacia and euphorbia cover the lower slopes; the Tihama coastal strip at the bottom is semi-arid lowland with its own ecology.
Hamadryas baboons are the most visible wildlife — large troops move along roadsides and near picnic areas, bold and unafraid of people. Klipspringer, Arabian gazelle, and Ethiopian hedgehog are present but harder to see. The birdlife is rich: Asir is one of the most important locations in Arabia for migrants passing between Africa and Asia, and resident species include Arabian sunbird and the endangered Arabian woodpecker.
The park's main access routes run from Abha and Khamis Mushait. Several scenic viewpoints on the escarpment offer views of 1,500-metre drops in a few kilometres. The Al-Soudah area at the park's highest point has developed picnic areas and is accessible by cable car from below Abha. Conditions are most pleasant from October to April; the summer monsoon (July to August) brings cloud, rain, and cool temperatures but can close some roads.