mtneering - Jan 16, 2019 2:29 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2019
Awesome
Very beautiful place.
technicolorNH - Mar 17, 2017 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Mar 17, 2017
Dry day
Eighty four minutes to the top with Kerri on a relatively dry day in the rain forest. Took pictures of snails and lizards both on the way up and down the mountain. The trail wasn't muddy at all, nor was it steep at any point. Fantastic views from the structure on top.
stinkycheezman33 - May 15, 2016 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2015
Great rainforest hike
Nice little hike, bagged a couple peaks in El Yunque
runbyu1 - Feb 10, 2014 12:06 am Date Climbed: Jan 20, 2008
Cruise Climb
Ran up to the top with the fam and got lots of pics. Had fun on the summit observatory and the great trail system. Slippery but also a really good time. Looking forward to going back.
joseyinnet - Apr 8, 2013 11:57 am Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2011
first rainforest hike
climbed with my brother. Lots of clouds/rain, and lots of cool wildlife! Couldn't see any views though.
slychels04 - Jan 1, 2013 8:46 am Date Climbed: Jan 13, 2010
El Yunque Rainforest Peaks
I rented a car from San Juan and went to El Yunque for a day. We hit Los Picachos peak, El Yunque Peak and Mt Britton on a loop hike. We took a wrong turn after Mt Britton and ended up taking the park road back to the parking lot. Both Britton and Yunque have towers at the peak. It is amazing to feel the clouds blow in while at the peak of Los Picachos.
Didn't get to do the top as part of our tour but hiked several different sections and swam in a waterfall. It would have been perfect weather for a summit, if i'm ever back, but a great time was had anyways
Shaylee - Jan 9, 2012 12:48 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2011
El Yunque
Dec 22 2011
Scott - Jan 7, 2012 11:45 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2011
El Yunque
Shaylee and I climbed all the points in the El Yunque area today. We started out at the Baño de Oro Trailhead and hiked up the mountain up to the turnoff for Los Picachos. We climbed the side track to Los Picachos where enjoyed the views before heading back to the main trail and climbing up to the summit of Pico El Yunque.
We decided to also climb the Roca El Yunque so we headed west and found the track to the scrambling route up to the summit. We found the Roca El Yunque to have the nicest views of the bunch and the scramble to the summit was fun.
After climbing the Roca we headed towards Monte Britton so we could climb that too. We climbed up the tower on top of the peak and then headed down to the Monte Britton Trail and back to the trailhead. It was a really great hike and with the paved trails, mountains don’t get that much easier in the tropical rainforest. There was some rain, but it wasn’t bad.
xpda - Aug 13, 2011 1:29 am Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2006
El Yunque Trail
It Rained!
Bark Eater - Jun 23, 2010 10:20 am Date Climbed: Dec 27, 1975
family vacation
Enjoyed hiking to the top with my family on a Christmas school break. We stayed in Luquillo Beach. There were dark clouds over the summit but they were high enough that we could see the sun out on the beaches far below. Amazingly we stayed dry!
big_g - Dec 12, 2009 11:47 pm Date Climbed: Dec 12, 2009
Los Picachos and El Yunque
Awesome to hike in someplace so different from my usual haunts. Visited Los Picachos too. No views anywhere.
Hi, I have been up many times. There are several trails to choose from but the longest is the El Yunque Trail which is what I take most of the time. When on the way up take the spur to los picachos, it has a nice observation deck at the very top of the pinnacle. Also, dont miss the Yunque Rock. It has the best section, IMHO, of cloud forest! And the view is awesome, its a special place. Most people only gow to the tower at the top and miss this! (its only a few hundred feet away!). On the way down I took the road to Mt. Britton tower and then the Mt. Britton Spur trail to conect with the El Yunque trail making a loop of about 5 miles.
Most people go to this area unprepared and are "surprised" by extremely heavy rain on the trail. At times water will run down the trail. I usually take my goretex boots and rain jacket and am comfortable regardless of the conditions. The Yunque Trail can pound your soles because its rocky at times (small sharp rocks) and its almost always a bit wet so take decent shoes. Sure you can climb it in crocks (seen people with those on the trail) but its wont be as fun.
For the best chance to get amazing views (you will get above 3,000 ft only a few miles from the ocean!) reach the peak around noon. But sometimes in the late afternoon it clears up, just make sure to be down before dark.
Due to time constraints and the company I was with, we only hit the tower at Mt. Britton. I'll be here for a while, so I'll be back. Nice view on a clear day, even from there.
velodurt - Feb 3, 2007 4:32 am Date Climbed: Jan 10, 2007
Cool Hike!
Just climbed El Yunque on Jan 10, 2007...we hit Mt Britton too. Great hikes in a beautiful part of the world. Check out our complete report with photos at this link Natural Born Hikers - El Yunque Peak
gordonye - Jan 29, 2007 7:21 pm Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2006
Cool hike
Did this easy hike in my street shoes with Neil. No views on the top but also lonely up there. Several parties turned back because of slippery conditions. Some places along the trail had vertical drop-offs, but fortunately they had guard rails. Refreshingly cool in the fog clouds. A ruined fireplace along the trail, and what seemed to be a ruined house foundation near Bano de Oro. Observation tower on the summit looks way old and somewhat gothic in the dense mist (never mind the modern communication facilities nearby that are almost invisible in the mist), maybe it was used to detect invading ships?
Wow, can't believe someone else has been on this mountain. Did you see UFOs too Gordon? Climbed and hiked around the rain forest many many times as a child and again in 2005 with my youngest daughter. Good luck catching a good clear day up there!
Deb, didn't hear about the UFO story... Just eerie up there in the dense mist, like Middle Earth. Many hikers stayed low in the warmer parts, it was like a zoo down at La Mina Fall! Thanks for the kind vote!
mtneering - Jan 16, 2019 2:29 pm Date Climbed: Jan 16, 2019
AwesomeVery beautiful place.
technicolorNH - Mar 17, 2017 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Mar 17, 2017
Dry dayEighty four minutes to the top with Kerri on a relatively dry day in the rain forest. Took pictures of snails and lizards both on the way up and down the mountain. The trail wasn't muddy at all, nor was it steep at any point. Fantastic views from the structure on top.
stinkycheezman33 - May 15, 2016 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Feb 5, 2015
Great rainforest hikeNice little hike, bagged a couple peaks in El Yunque
runbyu1 - Feb 10, 2014 12:06 am Date Climbed: Jan 20, 2008
Cruise ClimbRan up to the top with the fam and got lots of pics. Had fun on the summit observatory and the great trail system. Slippery but also a really good time. Looking forward to going back.
joseyinnet - Apr 8, 2013 11:57 am Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2011
first rainforest hikeclimbed with my brother. Lots of clouds/rain, and lots of cool wildlife! Couldn't see any views though.
slychels04 - Jan 1, 2013 8:46 am Date Climbed: Jan 13, 2010
El Yunque Rainforest PeaksI rented a car from San Juan and went to El Yunque for a day. We hit Los Picachos peak, El Yunque Peak and Mt Britton on a loop hike. We took a wrong turn after Mt Britton and ended up taking the park road back to the parking lot. Both Britton and Yunque have towers at the peak. It is amazing to feel the clouds blow in while at the peak of Los Picachos.
Jow - Apr 16, 2012 4:03 pm Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2012
Great DayDidn't get to do the top as part of our tour but hiked several different sections and swam in a waterfall. It would have been perfect weather for a summit, if i'm ever back, but a great time was had anyways
Shaylee - Jan 9, 2012 12:48 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2011
El YunqueDec 22 2011
Scott - Jan 7, 2012 11:45 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2011
El YunqueShaylee and I climbed all the points in the El Yunque area today. We started out at the Baño de Oro Trailhead and hiked up the mountain up to the turnoff for Los Picachos. We climbed the side track to Los Picachos where enjoyed the views before heading back to the main trail and climbing up to the summit of Pico El Yunque.
We decided to also climb the Roca El Yunque so we headed west and found the track to the scrambling route up to the summit. We found the Roca El Yunque to have the nicest views of the bunch and the scramble to the summit was fun.
After climbing the Roca we headed towards Monte Britton so we could climb that too. We climbed up the tower on top of the peak and then headed down to the Monte Britton Trail and back to the trailhead. It was a really great hike and with the paved trails, mountains don’t get that much easier in the tropical rainforest. There was some rain, but it wasn’t bad.
xpda - Aug 13, 2011 1:29 am Date Climbed: Jan 29, 2006
El Yunque TrailIt Rained!
Bark Eater - Jun 23, 2010 10:20 am Date Climbed: Dec 27, 1975
family vacationEnjoyed hiking to the top with my family on a Christmas school break. We stayed in Luquillo Beach. There were dark clouds over the summit but they were high enough that we could see the sun out on the beaches far below. Amazingly we stayed dry!
big_g - Dec 12, 2009 11:47 pm Date Climbed: Dec 12, 2009
Los Picachos and El YunqueAwesome to hike in someplace so different from my usual haunts. Visited Los Picachos too. No views anywhere.
sneakyracer - Oct 10, 2009 10:22 am
Great Hike, I have been up many times!Hi, I have been up many times. There are several trails to choose from but the longest is the El Yunque Trail which is what I take most of the time. When on the way up take the spur to los picachos, it has a nice observation deck at the very top of the pinnacle. Also, dont miss the Yunque Rock. It has the best section, IMHO, of cloud forest! And the view is awesome, its a special place. Most people only gow to the tower at the top and miss this! (its only a few hundred feet away!). On the way down I took the road to Mt. Britton tower and then the Mt. Britton Spur trail to conect with the El Yunque trail making a loop of about 5 miles.
Most people go to this area unprepared and are "surprised" by extremely heavy rain on the trail. At times water will run down the trail. I usually take my goretex boots and rain jacket and am comfortable regardless of the conditions. The Yunque Trail can pound your soles because its rocky at times (small sharp rocks) and its almost always a bit wet so take decent shoes. Sure you can climb it in crocks (seen people with those on the trail) but its wont be as fun.
For the best chance to get amazing views (you will get above 3,000 ft only a few miles from the ocean!) reach the peak around noon. But sometimes in the late afternoon it clears up, just make sure to be down before dark.
brendon - Apr 19, 2007 10:19 pm Date Climbed: Apr 6, 2007
Mte BrittonDue to time constraints and the company I was with, we only hit the tower at Mt. Britton. I'll be here for a while, so I'll be back. Nice view on a clear day, even from there.
velodurt - Feb 3, 2007 4:32 am Date Climbed: Jan 10, 2007
Cool Hike!Just climbed El Yunque on Jan 10, 2007...we hit Mt Britton too. Great hikes in a beautiful part of the world. Check out our complete report with photos at this link Natural Born Hikers - El Yunque Peak
gordonye - Jan 29, 2007 7:21 pm Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2006
Cool hikeDid this easy hike in my street shoes with Neil. No views on the top but also lonely up there. Several parties turned back because of slippery conditions. Some places along the trail had vertical drop-offs, but fortunately they had guard rails. Refreshingly cool in the fog clouds. A ruined fireplace along the trail, and what seemed to be a ruined house foundation near Bano de Oro. Observation tower on the summit looks way old and somewhat gothic in the dense mist (never mind the modern communication facilities nearby that are almost invisible in the mist), maybe it was used to detect invading ships?
Deb - Jan 29, 2007 5:09 am
Long Long AgoWow, can't believe someone else has been on this mountain. Did you see UFOs too Gordon? Climbed and hiked around the rain forest many many times as a child and again in 2005 with my youngest daughter. Good luck catching a good clear day up there!
gordonye - Jan 29, 2007 7:24 pm
Re: Long Long AgoDeb, didn't hear about the UFO story... Just eerie up there in the dense mist, like Middle Earth. Many hikers stayed low in the warmer parts, it was like a zoo down at La Mina Fall! Thanks for the kind vote!