El Chico National Park, National park in Hidalgo, Mexico
El Chico National Park is a protected area in Hidalgo state with dense forests of pine, oak and fir across 2,739 hectares (6,765 acres). The landscape shows steep mountains and rock formations between 2,320 and 3,090 meters (7,610 and 10,135 feet) elevation, cutting through several valleys.
The protected status began in June 1898 to shield the forests from uncontrolled logging driven by mining operations. This made it the first national park area in Mexico.
The park connects to Mineral del Chico, designated as a Pueblo Magico, where visitors experience Mexican traditions through local architecture and regional customs.
The area offers opportunities for camping, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and wildlife watching across different zones. Management is handled by CONANP and the Hidalgo state government, which maintain visitor facilities and trails.
The area sits at the natural boundary between the North American and Neotropical zones, which allows for an unusual mix of plants. It hosts six of Mexico's nine conifer genera along with 545 different plant species.
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