This trail starts at PR 191, km 12.2 across from the Palo Colorado Information Center. Parking is available in two paved parking lots adjacent to the center and at designated areas along the road.
The El Yunque trail is 2.4 miles in length rising from 2,067 feet to 3,445 feet. Hiking time is approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours one-way. This trail is rated as challenging, and can be quite steep and muddy in some places. The beginning of the trail is mainly gravel reinforced native flagstone and follows the contours of the mountain. At the halfway point where the trail divides, the El Yunque trail becomes more narrow and steep, and many parts are not paved.
The trail begins at the concrete steps across from the visitor center, leading to the Baño Grande pool. At the top of the steps the trail turns right and proceeds along the Caimitillo trail for approximately 150 feet to the El Yunque trail. Continuing on, you will pass through the lush canopy of the Palo Colorado forest into the higher elevations of the Mountain Palm (Palma Sierra in Spanish) forest, eventually reaching the mysterious ever clouded Dwarf Forest at the trail’s end.
At the junction of the El Yunque/Mount Britton Spur/Los Picachos trails there is an old natural-stone hut with a crumbling chimney, which is a good place to shelter from the rain, eat lunch, or merely enjoy the marvelous view.
At the peak, there is a small stone tower with steps leading to an observation deck at the top. If you are lucky enough and the weather is clear you can get a panoramic view of the rolling green forest carpet extending to the coastal plain and the Atlantic ocean to the north, and the Caribbean sea and the offshore islands of Culebra and Vieques to the east. This is usually seen by reaching the top before midday.
Hikers who choose not to retrace their steps and return the way they came, can return to the trail junction and take the Mount Britton Spur trail to Mount Britton Tower and follow the Mount Britton trail to PR 9938 and PR 191 and on to the Palo Colorado parking lot. Total trail/road distance is approximately 1.9 miles and can be hiked in 1 to 1 ½ hours.
Source: USDA Forest Service
