Piñones State Forest

Piñones State Forest, (in Spanish: Bosque Estatal de Piñones), and named after the Casuarina, locally called Piñones (after an invasive species of salt-tolerant tree from Australia used for lumber), is a timberland forest near one of the longest beaches in Puerto Rico. It is located in Torrecilla Baja barrio in the municipality of Loíza. It is a tourist attraction and is managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.[2][3]

Piñones State Forest
Bosque Estatal de Piñones
Map
Map showing the location of Piñones State Forest
Map showing the location of Piñones State Forest
Geography
LocationLoiza, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18°26′38″N 65°57′59″W[1]
Administration
Governing bodyPuerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

Geographical location

Home of a mangrove forest, Piñones is a natural reserve located east of Isla Verde north of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. It is operated by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and located in Loiza.[3][4][5]

Flora and fauna

The extremely rare tree Schoepfia arenaria grows here at a place called Punta Maldonado. Less than 200 of these Puerto Rican endemic trees are known to exist.[6]

The Piñones Trail

There is a boardwalk and trail used for biking and walking through parts of the forest. Several agencies carefully manage the Piñones Trail (in Spanish: Paseo Piñones), so as to avoid disturbing sensitive ecological and archeological points, while still encouraging "family-type" visits. In 2001, the trail received an award from the Federal Highway Administration for excellence in non-motorized transportation.[7][8]

Activities nearby

Near the forest is a beach called Playa Aviones and kiosks including, Kiosko El Boricua on PR-187 mentioned by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.[2]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bosque Estatal de Piñones
  2. "Playa Aviones". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  3. "Bosque Estatal de Piñones". Discover Puerto Rico. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  4. "Pinones Mangrove Forest – Nature Boardwalk & Waterfront Fun". Puerto Rico Day Trips.
  5. "The Institute for Regional Conservation". The Institute for Regional Conservation (in Spanish). April 22, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  6. Rivera, Marelisa; Fish and Wildlife Service (19 April 1991), "RIN 1018-AB42 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for the plant Schoepfia arenaria" (PDF), Federal Register, vol. 56, no. 76, pp. 16021–16024, retrieved 27 December 2021
  7. "The Piñones Trail - Division Activities - Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Division". Federal Highway Administration. December 5, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  8. "Piñones Boardwalk". Ecotreasures. 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
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