Las Estacas Riverside Forest Trail

Las Estacas is reached by private vehicle from Cuernavaca or Yautepec, about 45-60 minutes south along the Tlaltizapán-Cuautla road, with parking available at the park entrance. A day-pass entrance fee, payable by cash or card, grants access to the Las Estacas Natural Reserve and Spa grounds, within which the riverside trail sits. The walking route covers 2-3km of flat, packed paths following the banks of the spring-fed Las Estacas River through lowland forest; there is negligible elevation gain throughout, and the terrain poses no technical difficulty. Shaded sections alternate with more open riverside stretches, and the turquoise, constant-temperature spring water is visible for most of the walk. Landmarks include the park's swimming and tubing areas, which the path connects, along with several footbridges crossing side channels of the river. There are no refuge huts along the path, but the broader park grounds have restrooms, changing areas, and drink stands, so water and shelter are readily available nearby even though not directly on the trail itself. Because the river originates from a spring, its flow and temperature stay constant regardless of season or recent rainfall, distinguishing it from the seasonal streams found elsewhere in Morelos. The path is easy to follow, with the river itself serving as a continuous guide, making it a low-effort walk suited to combining with swimming or tubing elsewhere in the reserve.