Mt. Britton Trail & Tower
Status: OPEN / Rd 9938 is closed to vehicle access
The Trail: Starting at the trailhead sign, the trail ascends rapidly through the Sierra Palm forest, crosses two rushing mountain streams and then intersects with Forest Service Road 10 (closed to public vehicle traffic). The hiker turns right and continues along this road for approximately 500 feet, where it intersects with the remaining portion of the trail. The trail leads steeply upward through the Cloud Forest – take a right towards Mount Britton Tower or go straight or to the left to continue onto El Yunque Peak.
The Tower: Constructed of stone, the tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937-38, becoming the tallest of the Civilian Conservation Corp towers with stone masonry. Both tower and trail are named for botanist Nathaniel Britton who with his wife and colleague, bryologist Elizabeth Knight Britton identified a substantial amount of the native and endemic tree and plant species of the Luquillo mountains in 1912. They began and completed the compilation of a “Scientific Survey of Porto Rico,” a survey of the physical and natural history of the island focusing on its geology, zoology, botany, culture and broader natural science fields. The 19 volume product of this survey stands as one of the most complete descriptions of the natural history of any tropical area in the world!
On a clear day the tower’s observation deck affords the lucky hiker a panoramic view of the surrounding forest, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the southeastern and northeastern coastal plain.
Location: : The trailhead is located on a one way loop road, PR 9938, located off the upper (southern) end of PR 191 (near Km. 13).
Distance: 1.3 km
Time: 45 minutes one-way
Elevation: 760-940 meters; Tower is at 3,087 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Amenities: Rain Shelters
Special Safety Messages: Due to road construction on Rd 9938 this road is closed to vehicles. Pedestrian access is available to the Mt Britton trailhead. PR 191 at Rd 9938 is a two-way road. Signage will be installed in the assigned parking areas to guide visitors to parking spaces.
