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PR 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada

PR 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada — the trail guide

The PR 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada is a 10.0 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1 day, with 1304 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (130 m of gain per km, topping out at 1800 m).

Madeira's central-ridge traverse, running 10 km east from the Boca da Encumeada road pass (1,007 m) to the shelter below Pico Ruivo, the island's 1,862 m summit. It is the long, quiet approach to a peak most people reach in twenty minutes from a car park, climbing over 1,000 m on hand-cut stone stairs past Pico do Jorge, Pico Casado and the Boca das Torrinhas saddle. Both ends are trailheads on opposite sides of the massif, so transport has to be arranged.

Quick facts

Distance10.0 km
Total ascent1304 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness130 m gain per km
High point1800 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 999 m · high point 1800 m · 1304 m total ascent over 10.0 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 973 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
Jan13°92 mm
Feb13°94 mm
Mar13°110 mm
Apr14°85 mm
May16°49 mm
Jun18°11°75 mm
Jul21°13°10 mm
Aug22°14°16 mm
Sep20°13°45 mm
Oct18°12°109 mm
Nov15°10°103 mm
Dec14°112 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada?

The PR 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada is 10.0 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 1304 m.

How difficult is the PR 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 130 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1800 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 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada 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 1.3 — Vereda da Encumeada?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.754, -17.019 — 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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