Forest road tourEl Yunque Rainforest Hike with Transport from San Juan
4.95 166 reviews 96% five stars
- 6 hours
- Up to 12
- English, Spanish
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from $125 per person
Mount Britton Trail and Tower
Mt. Britton Trail climbs 0.8 mile to a stone lookout in El Yunque National Forest. The short distance includes steep uphill sections through cloud forest.
Mt. Britton Tower and the top section of its trail close November 9, 2026 to January 8, 2027. Ask what replaces the tower before you book. Forest Service notice
The upper El Yunque Trail and the Mt. Britton Spur close November 6, 2026 to April 30, 2027, from mile 0.63 up to Los Picachos. Forest Service notice
0.8 mileOne way to the tower
591 ftElevation gain
45 minOne way, by the Forest Service
Mt. Britton Trail at a glance
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Tower
- 3,087 feet, stone, built by the CCC
- Trailhead
- On PR 9938, a one-way loop near km 13 of PR-191
- Drinking water
- None on the trail
- Shelter
- Rain shelters on the trail
- Hours
- PR-191 hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to get to Mt. Britton Trail
Follow PR 9938 off upper PR-191 near km 13 to the Mt. Britton Trail trailhead. PR 9938 forms a one way loop off the main road.
On the road: near km 13 of PR-191, designated parking only, 45 minutes on foot to the tower. Your return walk and time at the tower are additional.
Mt. Britton TrailNear km 13
Today in El YunqueSaturday, November 7
8–5PR-191 hours, entry free
80%Chance of rain
2.03 ftRío Mameyes, steady
Mt. Britton Trail today
Open Status as the Forest Service lists it, read on November 7, 2026.
If it rains: wet slopes increase your risk of slipping during the climb. Wear shoes with good grip. Rain shelters provide cover along the route.
What to expect on Mt. Britton Trail
Mt. Britton Trail climbs steeply over 0.8 mile to the stone tower. The route begins in sierra palm forest. You cross two mountain streams along the route.
Turn right at Forest Service Road 10 and walk about 0.1 mile to rejoin the trail. Watch for traffic on Road 10. The trail climbs through cloud forest, with a right turn toward the tower.
Mt. Britton Tower
Mt. Britton Tower is a stone lookout built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the tower in the late 1930s.
Our pick: Mt. Britton Trail if you want cloud forest and can manage steep slopes. The observation deck overlooks the eastern coastal plain, Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea on clear days.
Tours that stop at Mt. Britton Trail
We compared all 162 El Yunque tours and kept 71 on reviews and ratings. These list Mt. Britton Trail as a stop. How we pick tours
Forest road tour
Forest road tourEl Yunque Rainforest Guided Tour
4.63 111 reviews 85% five stars
- 3 to 5 hours
- Up to 14
- English, Spanish
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from $75 per person
Private tourThe Best of Puerto Rico Private Day Tour
4.98 53 reviews 98% five stars
- 7 hours
- Private, your group only
- English, Spanish
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
from $408 per person
More stops in El Yunque
People also ask
Is Mt. Britton Trail open?
The label at the top of this page shows the status of Mt. Britton Trail for today, from Forest Service data refreshed every hour. Any dated closure notice appears beside it.
How long is the Mount Britton hike?
The hike on Mt. Britton Trail is 0.8 mile one way, or 1.6 miles round trip. The walking estimate of 45 minutes covers the climb to the tower only. Your return walk and any time you spend at the tower are extra.
How hard is Mt. Britton Trail?
Mt. Britton Trail is challenging, with steep slopes on the climb of 0.8 mile. Wet weather makes footing harder on the slopes. We recommend shoes with good grip for the steep climb and descent. The route crosses two mountain streams before a short walk along Forest Service Road 10.
Where is the Mt. Britton trailhead?
The trailhead for Mt. Britton Trail is on PR 9938 near km 13 of PR-191 in El Yunque. PR 9938 runs as a one way loop. You may park only in designated areas. From the trailhead, you walk 0.8 mile to the tower.
Who is Mt. Britton named after?
Mt. Britton Tower is named for botanist Nathaniel Britton and bryologist Elizabeth Britton. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the stone tower in the 1930s.