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PR 11 — Vereda dos Balcões

PR 11 — Vereda dos Balcões — the trail guide

The PR 11 — Vereda dos Balcões is a 2.8 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1–2 hours, with 83 m of total ascent. It rates Easy on our published rubric (30 m of gain per km, topping out at 904 m).

PR 11 runs 1.4 km from Ribeiro Frio, on the ER-103 across Madeira's central spine, alongside the Levada da Serra do Faial to the Balcões miradouro. The path is almost level, cut through UNESCO-listed laurissilva where chaffinches and Madeiran firecrests hang about the railings. The payoff is a stone balcony above the Ribeira da Metade valley, looking straight at Pico Ruivo, Pico das Torres and Pico do Arieiro. It is a dead end: you walk back the same way, roughly an hour return.

Quick facts

Distance2.8 km
Total ascent83 m
Typical duration1–2 hours
Difficulty (computed)Easy
Steepness30 m gain per km
High point904 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 "Easy" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 859 m · high point 904 m · 83 m total ascent over 2.8 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 776 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
Jan14°9°97 mm
Feb14°9°91 mm
Mar15°9°94 mm
Apr16°10°70 mm
May18°11°48 mm
Jun19°13°72 mm
Jul22°15°17 mm
Aug23°16°22 mm
Sep21°15°49 mm
Oct20°14°99 mm
Nov17°12°104 mm
Dec15°10°117 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 11 — Vereda dos Balcões?

The PR 11 — Vereda dos Balcões is 2.8 km, and most hikers complete it in 1–2 hours. Total elevation gain is 83 m.

How difficult is the PR 11 — Vereda dos Balcões?

It rates Easy on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 30 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 904 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 11 — Vereda dos Balcões 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 11 — Vereda dos Balcões?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.742, -16.890 — 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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