Mount Britton Trail is a moderately challenging hike (about 45 minutes to 1 hour) to reach a tower with a 360 degree view of El Yunque National Forest. It can be cloudy or misty at the top, but if you get a break of sunshine, you can see the northeast part of the island (Fajardo and Cayo icacos) as well as the tall buildings of San Juan. This was definitely one of the highlights of our family visit to El Yunque National Forest.
As of April 2022, the trail head is open. But there's some road construction in effect. You can park near the entrance of Route 9938 (about 10 spots are available on the roadside), but will need to walk 0.2 km to the trailhead entrance. From that point, it's a steady climb along an elevated concrete path with trees on both sides. Not too much to see along the way, but you may hear some coqui frogs (with its 2 distinct rising tones) and birds calling. 3 rest stops with benches are provided along the trail if you need to catch your breath. Toward the end, you'll see another paved road and then ascend up a final short climb to the tower itself.
Be sure to go all the way to top (3rd floor) for the 360 degree vista! It's well worth the effort. If you're not accustomed to uphill hiking, be sure to take rest breaks along the way and bring water. To reach the trailhead, you will need an advance reservation ($2 through recreation.gov). The park limits the number of vehicles each day (to avoid overcrowding). One tip is to arrive at the trailhead in the early morning (by 9:00am) when it's less busy. You will see a lot more people and tour groups by 11:00am. read more