Updated October 11, 2026. Trail status checked against the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Puerto Rico's DRNA and Para la Naturaleza.
Puerto Rico has a rainforest, a dry forest, cloud-forest peaks and coastal wildlife refuges. This list sticks to trails run by public agencies or nonprofit land trusts, so you can check their status before you drive. Distances and difficulty come from the managing agency wherever one is published.
Quick answer
- Best first hike: Mt. Britton Tower in El Yunque. It's short and steep and ends at a 1930s stone tower.
- Hardest day hike: El Toro Trail to the highest peak in the Luquillo Mountains (3,524 ft).
- Easiest: Angelito Trail (0.2 mi to a river pool) or Paseo del Morro in Old San Juan.
- Dry forest and coast: the Guánica State Forest in the southwest.
- Highest ground: Toro Negro, home to Cerro Punta, the island's highest point (1,338 m / 4,390 ft).
- Still closed (Oct 2026): El Yunque's La Mina Trail and Big Tree Trail, plus the stretch of El Yunque Trail past Los Picachos.
El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque's PR-191 recreation corridor is free and needs no reservation. The Forest Service suspended the Recreation.gov ticket system. Gates are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and everyone has to be out by closing, trails included. Rideshare apps can't pick you up at La Coca gate or El Portal, so drive, take a taxi, or book a permitted tour. More in our El Yunque guide.
1. Mt. Britton Trail and Tower. It's 1.3 km one way and the Forest Service rates it challenging (180 m of climbing, about 45 minutes up). The trail climbs through sierra palm into cloud forest and joins Forest Road 10 for a short stretch. Watch for construction traffic there. The stone tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937–38 and stands at 3,087 ft. On a clear day you can see both the Atlantic and the Caribbean from the top.
2. El Yunque Trail (to Los Picachos). This is the classic route up through the cloud forest, starting at PR-191 km 12.0, with a rain shelter partway along. It is open only as far as the Los Picachos spur. The section from there to El Yunque Peak is closed because a retaining wall failed. The surface mixes asphalt, gravel and stone and can be muddy.
3. El Toro Trail. This is a 3.8 km (2.3 mi) climb from PR-186 km 10.8 to El Toro Peak, at 3,524 ft the highest summit in the Luquillo Mountains, with 404 m of gain. The Forest Service rates it difficult and budgets about three hours. It runs through the El Toro Wilderness, the only tropical wilderness in the U.S. National Forest System. Cell signal is weak, so plan accordingly. The connecting Trade Winds Trail is closed.
4. La Coca Trail. This one is rated very challenging: 2.9 km (1.8 mi) one way, 200 m of elevation change and three river crossings, ending at the Mameyes River. The Forest Service warns that more hikers get lost here than anywhere else in the forest. Stay on the markers, skip it after rain (flash floods) and save energy for the uphill return. Parking at km 8.5 is very limited.
5. Angelito Trail. This easy 0.4 km (0.2 mi) walk from PR-988 km 3.6 leads to Las Damas pool on the Mameyes River. The Forest Service recommends it for families with young kids. Flash floods can come fast, so check conditions.
6. Caimitillo Trail. It's 0.6 km (0.4 mi) and easy, climbing from PR-191 km 12.1 past giant tree ferns to the Caimitillo picnic area. It connects to El Yunque Trail, so you can use it as a warm-up for the Los Picachos hike.
7. Baño de Oro Trail. This easy 0.5 km (0.3 mi) path starts across from the Palo Colorado information center at PR-191 km 12.25. It can be slippery, and water pools in places.
8. El Portal Trail. A 0.5 km loop at the El Portal Rainforest Center (PR-191 km 4), the forest's visitor center, with parking and restrooms. It's a good stop if you're short on time. The center closes for annual maintenance in September.
San Juan
9. Paseo del Morro. This seaside path runs below the walls of Castillo San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan and is managed by the National Park Service. It's open every day from sunrise to sunset and is for walking only. Bikes, e-bikes, skateboards and fishing are banned, and dogs must be leashed. Pair it with the forts (open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). See Old San Juan.
The central mountains
10. Toro Negro State Forest. This DRNA forest in the Cordillera Central covers about 8,200 cuerdas across Orocovis, Jayuya, Ponce, Juana Díaz and Ciales. It reaches 1,338 m at Cerro Punta, the island's highest point. DRNA lists roughly 18 km of trails, an observation tower and a natural pool. Our Toro Negro guide covers the access points.
11. Guilarte State Forest (Adjuntas). The forest's high point, Pico de Guilarte, stands at 3,950 ft (1,204 m). DRNA also rents rustic cabins here, one of only two state forests that offer them.
12. Carite State Forest (Cayey–Patillas). About 6,700 cuerdas in the Sierra de Cayey, between 250 and 903 m up. DRNA lists interpretive trails and the Charco Azul recreation area, a river pool on the Patillas side. Camping needs a DRNA permit.
13. Maricao State Forest. This forest covers 10,803 cuerdas in the western mountains around Maricao, San Germán and Sabana Grande and rises to about 900 m. DRNA lists an observation tower.
Karst country (north)
14. Guajataca State Forest (Isabela–Quebradillas). DRNA calls its roughly 44 km network the best trail system of any state forest. Trails cross mogote country with an observation tower. Combine it with the Guajataca Tunnel and Cara del Indio.
15. Cambalache State Forest (Arecibo–Barceloneta). About 1,600 cuerdas of karst forest with seven kilometers of trails for walking and biking, including an accessible trail.
16. Río Abajo State Forest (Utuado–Arecibo). This karst forest has DRNA interpretive trails and picnic areas, and it shelters rare native trees.
The southwest
17. Guánica State Forest (Bosque Seco). It's a UNESCO biosphere reserve, recognized in 1981, and DRNA calls it probably the world's best-preserved subtropical dry forest. It covers about 11,000 cuerdas with 13 miles of coastline. The forest is closed Mondays. DRNA has published different opening hours over time (7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Tue–Sun in its latest notice), so call 787-999-2200 before you go. Bring lots of water, because there's little shade.
18. Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge (Salt Flats Unit). Behind the interpretive center are three short trails through mangroves (all four Puerto Rican species), dry forest and pink hypersaline lagoons. The observation tower is open Mon–Sat, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and the center Wed–Sat, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (FWS). The refuge's main headquarters road is temporarily closed. See Cabo Rojo.
The east and the islands
19. Las Cabezas de San Juan (Fajardo). This Para la Naturaleza reserve can only be visited on a guided tour. Tours run Thursday–Sunday, take about 2.5 hours, and cost $15 ($11 for seniors and students). Book ahead at 787-722-5882. The walk covers mangroves, dry forest and the 19th-century lighthouse.
20. Vieques National Wildlife Refuge. It's open year-round with no entrance fee (FWS). Opening hours change with the season, so check the refuge page. Hiking and biking are allowed only on designated roads and trails. Much of the eastern refuge is closed because of unexploded ordnance, so stay inside the marked areas. See Vieques beaches.
Before you go
- Check status the same day. El Yunque posts trail closures on the Forest Service alerts page, and DRNA forests can close for repairs or weather.
- Start early. Gates and visitor centers keep fixed hours (El Yunque 8–5).
- Flash floods are the main danger on river trails like La Coca and Angelito. Don't cross rising water.
- What to pack: 2+ liters of water per person, sun protection for open dry-forest and refuge trails, closed shoes with grip for mud, a light rain layer for El Yunque and the high forests, and a charged phone (weak signal in El Toro).
- Leave no trace. Pack out trash and stay on marked trails.
For more ideas see outdoor activities in Puerto Rico and browse permitted guides in the Río Grande tours directory.
FAQ
Is La Mina Falls open? No. As of October 2026, the Forest Service lists La Mina Trail and Big Tree Trail as closed for construction.
Do I need a reservation for El Yunque? No. Entry to the PR-191 corridor is free and first-come, first-served, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
What's the highest point in Puerto Rico? Cerro Punta, at 1,338 m, in the Toro Negro State Forest.
What's the hardest hike? Among these, El Toro Trail (difficult, about three hours up) and La Coca (rated very challenging) are the toughest.
Are Puerto Rico's trails safe? Generally, with planning. Check closures, start early, avoid river trails after rain, and carry water.
Originally published on PuertoRico.com (2022-11-09); last updated 2026-10-11.