Saint-Hilaire/Lange National Park

Saint-Hilaire/Lange National Park is a protected Atlantic Forest reserve near Morretes with varied terrain spanning valleys, slopes, and mountain ridges. The landscape rises significantly from lowlands to higher elevations with dense forest covering throughout.

The protected area was established in 2001 to prevent further loss of Atlantic Forest and the creatures that live there. This action responded to decades of forest clearing that had already reduced the region's vegetation.

The park is named after two naturalists and serves as a vital water source for the communities below, shaping how local people relate to the forest around them. Residents view it as essential to their way of life rather than simply a distant reserve.

Access the park through marked entry points in nearby towns, and check directions beforehand since the reserve spans a large mountainous area. Wear sturdy shoes and bring rain gear as the terrain becomes slippery and weather changes quickly in the hills.

The reserve shelters rare animals such as parrots with red tail feathers and distinctive palm trees that have nearly disappeared elsewhere in the region. These species thrive here because the protected forest gives them space away from human pressures.