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PR 18 — Levada do Rei

PR 18 — Levada do Rei — the trail guide

The PR 18 — Levada do Rei is a 10.0 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in Half day, with 459 m of total ascent. It rates Easy on our published rubric (46 m of gain per km, topping out at 695 m).

Levada do Rei follows an irrigation channel that feeds the São Jorge water-treatment plant, running 5.3 km along the flank of the Ribeiro Bonito valley on Madeira's damp north coast. The path stays almost perfectly level the whole way, threading UNESCO-listed laurisilva — til, vinhático and tree heather — before dead-ending at the spring that supplies the levada.

Quick facts

Distance10.0 km
Total ascent459 m
Typical durationHalf day
Difficulty (computed)Easy
Steepness46 m gain per km
High point695 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 535 m · high point 695 m · 459 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 531 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°10°113 mm
Mar15°10°117 mm
Apr16°11°101 mm
May18°13°71 mm
Jun20°14°82 mm
Jul22°16°35 mm
Aug23°17°41 mm
Sep21°17°74 mm
Oct21°16°128 mm
Nov18°13°129 mm
Dec16°12°135 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 18 — Levada do Rei?

The PR 18 — Levada do Rei is 10.0 km, and most hikers complete it in Half day. Total elevation gain is 459 m.

How difficult is the PR 18 — Levada do Rei?

It rates Easy on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 46 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 695 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 18 — Levada do Rei 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 18 — Levada do Rei?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.817, -16.925 — 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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