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PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha

PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha — the trail guide

The PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha is a 7.0 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1 day, with 1367 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (195 m of gain per km, topping out at 1765 m).

PR 1.1 links Madeira's highest ground to the north-coast village of Ilha, dropping roughly 1,250 m in 7 km from the Casa de Abrigo shelter below Pico Ruivo. The path leaves the volcanic ridge crest, then plunges through tree heather and laurisilva onto the terraced spurs above Santana. Most walkers pair it with the short climb from Achada do Teixeira and take it downhill, which means arranging a taxi or pickup at the bottom — the trail is one-way, with no loop back.

Quick facts

Distance7.0 km
Total ascent1367 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness195 m gain per km
High point1765 m
CountryPortugal
RegionPortugal

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 475 m · high point 1765 m · 1367 m total ascent over 7.0 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 459 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan15°11°118 mm
Feb15°11°113 mm
Mar16°11°117 mm
Apr17°12°101 mm
May18°13°71 mm
Jun20°15°82 mm
Jul22°17°35 mm
Aug24°18°41 mm
Sep22°17°74 mm
Oct21°16°128 mm
Nov18°14°129 mm
Dec17°12°135 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha?

The PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha is 7.0 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 1367 m.

How difficult is the PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 195 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1765 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the PR 1.1 — Vereda da Ilha?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.806, -16.911 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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