El Yunque National Forest

Trail Package #2 - La Mina Trail

Location

This trail begins at the Palo Colorado Information Center located at PR 191, km 12.2 in the EYNF El Yunque Recreation Area. Parking is available in two adjacent paved parking lots, as well as at designated areas along the road.

Trail Description

The La Mina trail is 0.7 miles (1.2 km) long, descending from 2,132 feet (650 meters) to 1,640 feet (500 meters). Hiking time is approximately 30 to 45 minutes, one-way. This trail is rated as challenging in difficulty. It has several sets of winding concrete stairs that can make the return trip somewhat arduous. There are a number of covered picnic shelters (built of native stone by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930’s) available to hikers or picnickers near the trailhead. Each shelter has picnic tables, a barbeque and running water taps.

The La Mina trail is the most popular, hence the most heavily traveled trail on the EYNF. The trail follows the course of the La Mina River downward through lush tropical trees, shrubs and flowers to the La Mina waterfall (Cascada La Mina). Along the way, it crosses and re-crosses the rushing river on many small bridges, passing tiny cascades and still pools filled with chilled mountain water, on its way to the falls.

The trail ends at Cascada La Mina (La Mina Falls), an exquisite waterfall that drops over 35 feet through a jumble of huge rocks into a lovely pool where hikers can choose to swim in the cool refreshing water or merely rest and enjoy the view. At this point the trail connects to the Big Tree Trail. Hikers who choose not to retrace their steps and return the way they came can continue on this trail for 0.8 miles (1.4 km) exiting in approximately 30 to 40 minutes at the Big Tree Trail parking lot located on PR 191, km 10.4, about 1 mile (1.8 km) down from the Palo Colorado Visitor Center.

USDA Forest Service - El Yunque National Forest
Last Modified: Tuesday, 16 December 2008 at 14:17:14 EST