State Forests of Puerto Rico

State Forest

Municipality

Region

Why It’s Popular

Access Points, Trailheads & Swimming Holes

El Yunque National Forest

Río Grande (also Luquillo, Naguabo, Ceiba, Fajardo, Canóvanas, Las Piedras, Juncos)

East

A tropical rainforest managed by the USDA Forest Service — the only one in the U.S. National Forest System — known for waterfalls, hiking trails, and lush biodiversity.

El Portal Visitor Center (PR-191, Km 4.2) is the main gateway. Angelito Trail (PR-988, Km 3.6) leads to Las Damas Pool; La Mina Trail (Palo Colorado Center, PR-191, Km 12.2) leads to La Mina Falls (reported closed for repairs as of mid-2025 — verify current status).

Bosque Estatal de Guánica

Guánica (also Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Yauco — mostly offshore keys)

South

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve featuring rare dry forest ecosystems, with trails leading to scenic coastal overlooks.

Main parking/ranger area at PR-334, Km 6, Guánica. The Ballena Trail (off PR-333) leads to Punta Ballenas; the Meseta Trail ends near Tamarindo Beach, the calmer of the two swim options (Ballena Bay has a stronger undertow).

Piñones State Forest

Loíza

East

A coastal reserve of mangroves and lagoons just east of San Juan, popular for biking, kayaking, and food.

Paseo Piñones boardwalk (off PR-187) is the main biking/walking corridor; the COPI community hub near the Boca de Cangrejos bridge offers informal parking. Named swim spot: Pozo Beach, a shallow rock-sheltered pool.

Bosque Estatal de Carite

Cayey / Guayama (also Caguas, Patillas, San Lorenzo)

Central Mountains

A mountain forest with hiking trails, freshwater lagoons, and coquí frog habitat.

Guavate Recreation Area (PR-184, Km 25). Charco Azul Recreation Area (PR-184, Km 17.8) is the official DRNA swimming hole; Los Tres Chorros (PR-184, Km 12.3) is a popular but informally-accessed waterfall/pool nearby.

Toro Negro State Forest

Ciales / Orocovis / Villalba / Jayuya / Ponce

Central Mountains

Puerto Rico’s highest cloud forest, with waterfalls and Lake Guineo; home to Cerro de Punta (4,390 feet).

Ranger station at PR-143, Km 32.4. Doña Juana Falls (PR’s tallest waterfall) and Lake Guineo (PR-143, Km 25.4), the island’s highest lake, are the two signature stops.

Río Abajo State Forest

Utuado / Arecibo

North

A karst forest with an endangered Puerto Rican parrot breeding program and junglelike hiking.

Main parking at Road 621, Km 7.4; forest manager’s office at Road 621, Km 4.4. The Cueva de Agua and Cueva Alta trails lead to caves with petroglyphs; no named swimming hole or waterfall found.

Bosque Estatal de Aguirre

Guayama

South

A 2,000+ acre mangrove and salt-lagoon reserve hosting 184+ bird species (including the endangered yellow-shouldered blackbird) and West Indian manatees.

Camping/parking area at PR-7710, Km 2.6, Guayama. Walking paths lead to an observation tower over the mangrove lagoon; no named swimming hole found.

Bosque Estatal de Boquerón

Cabo Rojo / Lajas / Mayagüez

West

A ~5,000-acre mangrove and coastal reserve with historic salt flats, the Los Morrillos Lighthouse, and limestone cliffs; a National Natural Landmark.

Main office on José de Diego Street, Boquerón (group tours by reservation only). No swimming hole confirmed within the forest itself — nearby Playa Boquerón is a separate attraction.

Bosque Estatal de Cambalache

Arecibo / Barceloneta

North

A 1,000+ acre karst forest considered one of Puerto Rico’s premier mountain-biking destinations, with an extensive marked trail network.

DRNA entrance at Carr. 682, Km 6, San Luis, Arecibo. Extensive named bike trails (Piedra Gorda, Laberinto, Rock Garden Trail, and others); no swimming hole found.

Bosque Estatal de Ceiba

Ceiba / Fajardo

East

A 352-acre coastal mangrove reserve with sandy beach and coral reef zones, supporting the endangered yellow-shouldered blackbird and West Indian manatee.

No public-facing access point, trailhead, or visitor center was found — the land was largely folded into former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads and has little developed tourist infrastructure.

Bosque Estatal de Cerrillos

Ponce

South

A ~194-acre Tabonuco forest centered on the man-made Lago Cerrillos, popular for fishing, kayaking, hiking, and birdwatching.

Entrance at PR-139, Km 3.4, with picnic gazebos on site. Recreation centers on the reservoir itself rather than a named swimming hole.

Bosque Estatal de Guajataca

Quebradillas / Isabela

North

A 2,350-acre karst forest with the largest trail system of any Puerto Rico state forest (44+ km) and the signature Cueva del Viento cave.

Forest office at Route 446, Km 11. The Cave Trail leads to Cueva del Viento (reported closed/in poor condition in recent visitor reports — verify); no named swimming hole within the forest.

Bosque Estatal de Guilarte

Adjuntas

Central Mountains

A cool, cloud-forest-like mountain reserve centered on Pico Guilarte (3,950 ft), popular for hiking, birdwatching, and panoramic views.

DRNA ranger station at PR-518 & PR-131, Adjuntas; the Pico Guilarte Trail leads to the summit lookout. The nearby Charco El Ataud swimming hole is not confirmed to lie within the forest’s official boundary.

Bosque Estatal de Maricao

Maricao / San Germán / Sabana Grande

West

Puerto Rico’s largest state forest (10,000+ acres), a cloud forest on unique serpentinite soils, popular for panoramic views, birding, and waterfall hikes.

Monte del Estado / Parque Ecológico Monte del Estado (off PR-120) is the main entrance, with an observation tower and CCC-era ruins. Salto Curet waterfall (via PR-105, Road 425) requires a ~30-min hike with river crossings.

Bosque Estatal Monte Choca

Corozal

Central Mountains

A small (244-acre) tropical moist forest at one of Corozal’s highest points, with well-maintained community-run loop trails.

Reached via PR-808, Corozal; visits reportedly require advance phone coordination ((787) 859-2046). No named swimming hole found.

Nuevo Milenio State Forest

San Juan

Metro

A 390-acre secondary-growth forest reclaimed from a former quarry, part of the San Juan Ecological Corridor and notable for urban birding.

Near the UPR Botanical Garden in Río Piedras; largely not open for casual walk-in visits — access must be arranged in advance by phone ((787) 772-2009). No formal visitor center or named trail/swimming hole found.

Bosque La Olimpia

Unconfirmed — see note

Central Mountains (if Adjuntas)

Note: this does not appear on DRNA’s official list of 20 state forests, and no “Bosque La Olimpia” in Ponce could be verified. The only matching site found is Bosque Escuela La Olimpia, a Casa Pueblo-run educational forest site in Adjuntas.

If this is the intended site: Casa Bosque, Rodulfo González 30, Adjuntas, open daily 8am–3pm, phone (787) 829-4842. Worth confirming which forest you actually mean before publishing — it may also be a mix-up with Cerrillos State Forest (the official DRNA forest located in Ponce).

Bosque Estatal San Patricio

San Juan / Guaynabo

Metro

A rare urban forest reclaiming a 1960s U.S. Navy housing development, with ~70 tree species and habitat for the endangered Puerto Rican boa.

Gate entrance via Calle Roosevelt (PR-23) and Calle Ensenada; open Wednesday–Saturday, 9am–3pm. Interpretive trails follow old paved roads from the former housing development; no swimming hole.

Bosque Estatal de Susúa

Sabana Grande / Yauco

West

A semi-dry subtropical forest known for birding, rare orchids, and an active mountain-bike trail network; popular for camping.

DRNA visitor/camping area (exact access road unverified in sources — field-check before publishing). Named mountain-bike trails include Tamarindo and Las Guáras; no swimming hole found.

Bosque Estatal Tres Picachos

Jayuya / Ciales

Central Mountains

Centers on the three-peaked Tres Picachos summit (3,176 ft), a designated Important Bird Area with high species endemism.

Nearest access via Coabey, Jayuya. Las Delicias Falls (via PR-149) on the Cialitos River is the named waterfall, though parking is very limited (~4 spots).

Bosque Estatal de Vega

Vega Alta / Vega Baja

North

A karst-topography forest and important aquifer recharge area, home to three endemic bird species.

Bosque Estatal de Vega area (near PR-675/PR-2) — no verified Km marker found; management office by phone only ((787) 883-2240). No named swimming hole found.