the parque estadual da pedra branca is home to landmark formations suchs as the morro dois irmãos de jacarepaguá, not to be confused with the world-famous morro dois irmãos in leblon, the bico do papagaio (parrot's beak), and pedra branca (white stone), the highest peak in urban rio de janeiro reaching 1024 meters.

still in the urban area, just across the guanabara bay, in niterói and maricá, the serra da tiririca is home to the stunning beauty of the alto mourão and of the pedra do elefante - two of the best hikes in the state.

outside the capital the highest peaks in the state are found in the itataia national park which contain the serra da mantiqueira mountain range.