due to the size of the park, the various attractions and peaks are spread across a number of the city's neighborhoods, adding to their own on individual character. the neighborhood with the most of the parks peaks is the exotic alto da boa vista, whilst there are also many in the grajaú, itanhangá, and gávea neighborhoods.

many of the peaks are well set up for hiking, with various paths snaking up their sides. hiking is the most popular activity in the park, offering a great variety of trails, all with varying difficulties, heights and challenges. one of the most popular hikes in tijuca leads to the highest peak in the park, the pico da tijuca. the trail is one of the oldest in the city, with the first mention of its existence dating back to 1853.