El Yunque (Puerto Rico)

El Yunque
View of El Yunque from the Yokahú Tower in Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Highest point
Elevation	1,080 m (3,540 ft)
Parent peak	El Toro
Coordinates	18°18′38″N 65°47′29″W / 18.31056°N 65.79139°W / 18.31056; -65.79139
Naming
Etymology	Yúcahu phonetic Spanish transliteration of Taíno possibly meaning 'white land' and/or El Yunque meaning 'the anvil' in Spanish due to the shape of the mountain range when seen from the south.
Geography
El Yunque Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Parent range	Sierra de Luquillo
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

El Yunque or El Yunque Peak (Spanish: Pico El Yunque) (Taíno: Yukiyu^[1]) is a mountain located fully within the boundaries of the El Yunque National Forest, part of the U.S. Forest Service, which is the only tropical rainforest under the U.S. Forest Service jurisdiction. It is located in the municipality of Río Grande.

The peak itself, standing at 1,080 metres (3,540 feet) above sea level is not the highest in Puerto Rico or even the Sierra de Luquillo range where it is located. It is however the most famous peak due to its curious shape, its natural environment and history, and for its cultural importance to the Taino people. The peak is nearly always covered in thin mist and due to its high humidity, a quick shower develops during some afternoons. The hike to the top from the Mina Falls is not challenging yet it takes almost 4+1⁄2 hours.

This peak is located on the El Yunque massif which also contains other smaller peaks such as Mount Britton, Juan Diego Peak and the Roca del Yunque which is a rocky peak close to the summit of El Yunque. El Yunque massif itself is part of the Sierra de Luquillo. The highest point in the Sierra de Luquillo is El Toro (Spanish for the bull) located in the municipal boundary between Río Grande and Las Piedras, which lends its name to the El Toro Wilderness.

El Yunque is classified as having a tropical rainforest climate, Köppen climate type 'Af', along with surrounding areas, approximating a subtropical highland climate at the peak. The average temperature of the park is 70 °F, and seasonal variation virtually nonexistent. The rugged area can receive over 200 inches (5080 millimeters) of annual rainfall and is the rainiest of all US national forests.^[2][3][4]

It is accessible via Mt Britton trail near the end of PR 191, which starts in PR 3 in the small town of Palmer. The best access from San Juan is via PR 66 toll express in 1 hr. which exits to PR 3. At the end of PR 191 in El Yunque there is a loop that goes to the entrance of the Mt Britton trail - close to El Yunque peak. It is one of the few places close to this trail with about 15 parking spots.

This trail is mostly paved and leads to the Mt Britton tower, the Three Peaks (Tres Picachos), the spur trail, and finally El Yunque peak with communications systems (towers) and then a small tower in the peak. The main road PR 191 has a gate at the end and after this there is a maintenance road to El Yunque and then the closed section of PR 191 which is about 3 hours long - a road that is being reclaimed by the forest and is closed due to a massive landslide. There is also the entrance the Tradewinds trail - possibly the longest trail of the park, which ends in El Toro Peak.

Its summit provides views of the other peaks of El Yunque, the vast rainforest below, and the rest of the island. The river in PR 191 called Quebrada Juan Diego is just below this peak and has a trails, waterfalls and ponds.

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  Morning mist in El Yunque rainforest by El Yunque peak.
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  El Yunque massif with Pico El Yunque, Roca El Yunque and Mount Britton.
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  El Yunque view from Mount Britton Tower.
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  El Yunque from the north.
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  El Yunque from Yocahu Tower.
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  Los Picachos (left) and El Yunque (right) covered in fog.
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  El Yunque from the Northeast Ecological Corridor.
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• El Yunque National Forest

• Media related to El Yunque (Puerto Rico) at Wikimedia Commons