The park has an extensive trail system, the most famous of which is the 42km, three-day traverse over the mountains from Petrópolis to Teresópolis. Hiring a guide for this and other local treks is easy. Inquire at the national park entrance or with Trekking Petrópolis . The best time for walks is from May to October (the drier months).
The main entrance to the national park is at the south edge of the town of Teresópolis, off Hwy BR-116 from Rio, about 4km from the center. Walking trails, waterfalls, natural swimming pools and tended lawns and gardens make this a pretty place for a picnic. Other park entrances can be found at Vale do Bonfim , (20km northeast of Petrópolis) and Guapimirim (in the park's southeastern corner, off the Rio–Teresópolis highway).
From the Teresópolis entrance, the road extends into the park as far as Barragem Beija Flor. There are several good walks from near here. The highlight is the Trilha Pedra do Sino – a strenuous round-trip of about eight hours from the end of the park road (R$43 trail fee). The trail passes Cachoeira Veu da Noiva , the vegetation changes from rainforest to grassland, and the reward is a panoramic view stretching all the way to Rio de Janeiro and the Baía de Guanabara. For a shorter walk, take the 800m Trilha Mozart Catão (one hour round trip from the park road) up to the Mirante Alexandre Oliveira (1100m) for nice views of Teresópolis – or follow the park's newest trail, the 1.2km Trilha Cartão Postal, up to a higher viewpoint (1320m) for spectacular perspectives on the distinctive Dedo de Deus and the entire Serra dos Órgãos range.
