Pedra do Elefante ou Alto Mourão

You will feel on top of Niterói on this trail, and for good reason: Elephant Rock stands 412 meters high, the highest point in the city. From this privileged location, the view extends to the beaches of Saquarema, already in the Lakes Region of Rio de Janeiro. On clear days, it is possible to see Cabo Frio Island and the Maricás Islands. To the north, there is a panoramic view of the Serra da Tiririca and the Serra dos Órgãos in the background. The region is also known as Falso Pão de Açúcar, Pedra de Itaipuaçu, and Alto Mourão. The last name comes from the former landowner, Duarte Martins Mourão - the Portuguese colonizer received the land grant after helping Estácio de Sá expel the French and Tamoios from Guanabara Bay in the 16th century. The hike takes place amidst the Atlantic Forest and features several viewpoints with beautiful views. One of them is located before the final part of the trail and is often used for resting before the ascent to the summit. From there, it is possible to observe the Costão de Itacoatiara and the Furna da Solidão - the latter can be accessed via a fork in the trail.