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PR 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga

PR 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga — the trail guide

The PR 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga is a 3.0 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 2–3 hours, with 375 m of total ascent. It rates Moderate on our published rubric (125 m of gain per km, topping out at 1330 m).

PR 13.1 is Madeira's back-door route into Rabaçal. From the ER 209 at Louro da Gota it shares the Vereda do Fanal for 100 metres, then turns off and drops about 350 metres on a long stone staircase through high-altitude heath named for the palha-carga grass, with views over the Rabaçal valley. The climb back out is the hard part.

Quick facts

Distance3.0 km
Total ascent375 m
Typical duration2–3 hours
Difficulty (computed)Moderate
Steepness125 m gain per km
High point1330 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 "Moderate" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 976 m · high point 1330 m · 375 m total ascent over 3.0 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 994 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
Jan12°113 mm
Feb12°113 mm
Mar13°128 mm
Apr14°105 mm
May15°10°67 mm
Jun17°12°77 mm
Jul19°13°24 mm
Aug21°15°28 mm
Sep19°14°63 mm
Oct18°13°127 mm
Nov15°10°120 mm
Dec14°134 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga?

The PR 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga is 3.0 km, and most hikers complete it in 2–3 hours. Total elevation gain is 375 m.

How difficult is the PR 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga?

It rates Moderate on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 125 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1330 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 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga 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 13.1 — Vereda da Palha Carga?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.766, -17.126 — 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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