Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tinuous climb on paved surfaces to the evocative stone Mt Britton Tower, built in the 1930s.
When not shrouded by clouds, the panoramic views extend over the forest to the Atlantic
Ocean and the Caribbean. The trailhead is at the side of Hwy 9938, which veers off Hwy
191 south of the Palo Colorado Visitors Center. The more adventurous and fit can connect
to El Yunque Trail via the 0.86-mile Mt Britton Spur.
El Yunque Trail
HIKING
On a clear day, never-ending views extending to Vieques and Culebra reward hikers tack-
ling the almost 1500ft of elevation gain on this trail. This is the big enchilada for most vis-
itors, taking you to the top of El Yunque (3496ft, 1049m) in 1½ hours or longer. Starting
on Rte 191 Km 12.2 opposite the Palo Colorado Visitors Center, the 2.4-mile trail is mostly
paved or maintained gravel as you ascend through cloud forest and then dwarf forest to the
observation deck, which is surrounded by microwave communication towers that transmit
to the islands of Culebra and Vieques. If you want a rock scramble from here, take Los
Picachos Trail (0.17 miles) to another old observation tower and feel as if you have crested
a tropical Everest. You can return via a different route by descending down the Mt Britton
Spur/Mt Britton Trail and then down Rtes 9938 and 191 to your start point.
Tradewinds-El Toro Trail
HIKING
Scheduled for extensive repairs and closures over the next few years, this trail is the closest
El Yunque gets to a true backcountry adventure. Although the 7.8-mile round-trip to El
Toro (3522ft) and back might not sound particularly daunting, wet conditions, thick mud
and poorly maintained paths render it an all-day excursion for most hikers (some parties
even camp out overnight). El Toro is El Yunque's highest point and the trail up from Hwy
191 traverses dense jungle broken by intermittent views of both coasts. During the ascent
you'll pass through all four forest life systems, ending up in a haunting dwarf forest above
3000ft characterized by its ghostly epiphytes and ubiquitous mist.
The trailhead for the Tradewinds Trail is situated at Km 13.3 on Hwy 191, behind a
locked gate where the road ends. The unpaved path climbs 3.9 miles to the summit of El
Toro, from where you can either retrace your steps or continue west on the similarly vague
El Toro Trail to Km 10.8 on Hwy 186 (2.1 miles from El Toro and 6 miles from Hwy 191).
From here you'll need to return the way you came, or arrange for a car to pick you up and
take you back to the start.
Aspiring hikers should contact the forest visitors center for current road conditions and
trail status.
