Forest Service Announces Temporary Closure of El Yunque National Forest and Recreational Areas

The Forest Service announced that El Yunque National Forest will remain closed until further notice, while the vegetative material left by Tropical Storm Ernesto during its passage through Puerto Rico is cleared from roads and trails and the recreational areas are being assessed to see if they are safe for visitors.

In addition to the PR-191 recreational corridor in Río Grande, the closure extends to El Portal de El Yunque visitor center, Angelito trail and Puente Roto recreational area in Luquillo, and Río Sabana recreational area and trail in Naguabo.

“We are still unsure of the total impact, but it appears to be less than Hurricane Fiona. We are working hard to restore access to all our recreational sites. First, we will clear the roads, and then, the trails. This requires a lot of heavy equipment, and at the moment, it is not safe to visit the forest, even in your vehicle,” said Keenan Adams, El Yunque's forest supervisor.

“We know that access to El Yunque is important to many people, and we understand that after these weather events, which bring a certain level of anxiety, connecting with nature and outdoor recreation becomes almost a necessity. Please, know we are working hard to ensure you return to enjoy your national forest. In the meantime, we ask the public to exercise caution and prioritize your safety and the safety of those working to reopen as soon as possible,” Adams added.

Yesterday, Wednesday, a brigade of forest firefighters and other forest employees began cleaning and removing vegetative material at the entrance to the recreational area on PR-191 north. This work will continue today, in addition to the damage assessment and identification of landslides caused by the storm, which has now become a hurricane.

Several active landslides have been identified on PR 191 north, PR191 south and 9966.

On another note, the first of three public meetings between the Forest Service and the Foundation for Puerto Rico, scheduled for Saturday, August 17, 2024, was postponed because, during the next few days, efforts will focus on the work necessary to reopen the forest and recreational sites. The meetings will address the forest's challenges of access, recreational infrastructure, and financial sustainability, with the objective of identifying possible solutions together with the community.

The virtual meeting on Wednesday, August 21, and the in-person meeting on Wednesday, August 28, at the El Portal visitor center in El Yunque, are still scheduled. Interested persons can register at https://bit.ly/Eastern-Region.

For updates on forest operations, please log on to https://www.facebook.com/elyunquenf/ or access https://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque.