Bosque Estatal de Río Abajo Cave System Access Road

The old CCC roads built in the 1930s still provide the only motorized access to Río Abajo’s extensive cave network, including the massive Cueva Clara system that extends over three miles underground. The route follows ridge lines through dense subtropical forest before dropping into sinkholes where you’ll ford the Río Grande de Arecibo twice. Key landmark is the concrete marker at Kilometer 7 where a side trail leads to Cueva del Indio petroglyphs – some of the most significant pre-Columbian rock art on the island.

Technical difficulty varies from easy forest roads to expert-level rock crawling around the cave entrances. Stock 4WD handles the main route, but accessing the remote caves requires serious underbody protection and recovery gear. Best attempted during dry season when river levels are manageable. No facilities once you leave the main forestry station, so carry extra water and basic camping gear. The cave exploration alone makes this worth the challenging access – just bring good headlamps and cave-appropriate clothing.