El Yunque Trail - Hiking trail near Palmer, Puerto Rico, United States - Description

The El Yunque trail is 2.4 miles (4.4 km) in length rising from 2,067 feet (630 meters) to 3,445 feet (1,050 meters). 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 first half of the trail surface is primarily gravel reinforced native flagstone and follows the natural contours of the mountain. Where the trail divides at the halfway mark (indicated by Forest Service signs), 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 junction (marked by a Forest Service sign). Continuing on, the hiker passes 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.

Along the trail the hiker crosses and re-crosses many cool mountain streams while enjoying broad vistas overlooking the surrounding forest. At the junction of the El Yunque/Mount Britton Spur/Los Picachos trails there is an old natural-stone hut with a crumbling chimney (built by the CCC in the 1930s), which is an ideal 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. The hiker who reaches the summit before mid-day may be lucky enough to get a clear 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. In the afternoon the cloud cap returns obscuring all but the mossy, fern and vine draped shapes of the Dwarf forest.

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 ultimately to the Palo Colorado parking lot. Total trail/road distance is approximately 1.9 miles (2.5 km) and can be hiked in 1 to 1 ½ hours.

This trail originates at PR 191, km 12.2 across from the Palo Colorado Information Center in the EYNF El Yunque Recreation Area. Parking is available in two paved parking lots adjacent to the center and at designated areas along the road.