One of the most distinctive features of the forest is the mogote on its northern edge which can be observed from many parts of San Juan and Guaynabo.

The site of the forest was first developed for agriculture and cattle grazing and used to be a farm called Finca San Patricio.

The rest of the land was originally acquired by the US Army with the intention of developing residences for nearby Fort Buchanan.

[1] In 1962 the city of San Juan was experiencing a population boom and urban sprawl destroyed much of the original forest areas of the region.

[1] After being closed due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the forest has recently been revitalized and it re-opened in April of 2021.

Other amphibian species commonly found in the forest are the white-lipped frog (Leptodactylus albilabris) and the cane toad (Rhinella marina).

It is a good place for birdwatching[5] and educational tours about the various scientific research projects that are conducted in the area.