Best Hiking Trails in El Yunque National Forest

Caimitillo Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km (one way)

Elevation: 2,067 to 2,427 feet / 630-740 meters

Location: Road 191 km 12.1

One of the easiest hikes in El Yunque is just 100 feet south of the Sierra Palm Visitor Center on Road 191 km 12.1. This short 0.4 to 0.6-mile walk is ideal for those who want to enjoy what the rainforest has to offer but are not ready to take on a more challenging trail. It is excellent if you're going to exercise with young ones or pets. Along the trail, you'll find many picnic spots with tables and barbecue pits, giant fern trees, beautiful wildflowers, and streams. This trail is the best opportunity for a "quick" nature trip and birdwatching. 

Angelito Trail 

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 0.2 miles / 0.4 km (one way)

Elevation: 492-360 feet / 150-110 meters

Location: Road 988 km 3.6

This popular and easy hike ends with a refreshing natural pool at the Wild and Scenic Río Mameyes (Mameyes River). El Angelito trail is about a half-mile long and takes around 20 minutes to complete one way, making it ideal for families with children. The path is primarily used for walking and nature trips and is accessible year-round. It tends to be less crowded and shows a different type of vegetation than what you'll find on the upper side of the rainforest. Although it starts packed with gravel, the pathway is uneven and becomes muddy after rain – nothing you can't wash off later in the river. 

Mount Britton Trail & Tower

Difficulty: Challenging

Distance: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km (one way)

Elevation: 2,493-3,087 feet / 760-940 meters

Location: Road 191 near km 13

Once you reach the top, you'll be surrounded by clouds! This 0.8-mile, out-and-back trail starts just off of Road 191 heading toward the Mount Britton lookout tower. The hike is around 45 minutes long, climbing up on paved pathways through the sierra palm and into the cloud forest. The narrow trail is labeled "challenging" by the U.S. Forest System. While it’s not as difficult as the label might suggest, keep in mind that it is steep in some places, and the humidity and rain can make the trail slippery at times. 

The path has three covered rest stations on the way up and connects to the El Yunque Trail, which leads to the peak (about another hour uphill). The Mt. Britton observation tower was built in the 1930s by the Conservation Corps and is named after famous botanist Nathaniel Britton. It has an elevation of 3,087 feet and climbs 594 feet in less than a mile. The scenic views from the tower span across the forest all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. 

El Yunque Trail

Difficulty: Challenging

Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km (one way)

Elevation: 2,067-3,445 feet / 630-1,050 meters

Location: Road 191 km 12.0

From Caimitillo Trail or Mt. Britton Trail, you can join up with El Yunque Trail to continue up to one of the highest points in the rainforest – El Yunque Peak. You will gain nearly 1,400 feet as you climb through Palo Colorado forest, sierra palms, and cloud forest to the peak, which offers incredible views in all directions. The trail is a mix of asphalt, gravel, and natural stone. It can be muddy at times, so watch your step!

Los Picachos 

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 0.2 miles / 0.3 km

Elevation: 3,175 feet / 968 meters

Location: Accessed through El Yunque Trail

Although it is an easy 0.2-mile hike, to reach this trail, you'll need to travel about two miles up El Yunque Trail. The path, which leads to a panoramic view of the Island’s east coast, includes a section of steep stairs and may be muddy and slippery, but the scenery in the cloud forest makes up for all the effort. It is recommended to stop here before continuing to El Yunque Peak.

La Coca Trail

Difficulty: Very challenging

Distance: 1.8 miles / 2.9 km (one way)

Elevation: 820-1,476 feet / 250-450 meters

Location: Road 191 km 8.5

Prepare to get muddy! Near La Coca waterfall along Road 191 is a very challenging path that posts an elevation change of 656 feet. This trail offers a walk in the lower part of the tabonuco forest. It runs for 1.8 miles one way and requires some effort, so be sure to pack extra water for the uphill return. The natural surface trail has very steep slopes and difficult parts with various streams and river crossings. The trail ends at the Río Mameyes, which is a designated Wild and Scenic river. Be sure to stay on the designated path and follow the markers placed along the way. 

El Toro Wilderness Trail

Difficulty: Difficult

Distance: 2.3 miles / 3.8 km (one way)

Elevation: 2,132-3,533 feet / 650-1,074 meters

Location: Road 186 km 10.8

Hike to the highest point of the rainforest along a challenging and steep trail. The 4.9-mile out-and-back pathway known as El Toro is uneven and requires you to climb over rocks and fallen trees, which means you'll get a full workout and be somewhat muddy. During the hike, you'll be able to enjoy the varied flora of the forest, changing from tabonuco to fern trees and sierra palms the higher up you get. El Toro is more secluded than the other trails in El Yunque, so it is recommended not to wander off the designated path in order to protect the natural environment and prevent accidentally getting lost.