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PR 2 — Vereda do Urzal

PR 2 — Vereda do Urzal — the trail guide

The PR 2 — Vereda do Urzal is a 9.5 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1 day, with 1220 m of total ascent. It rates Moderate on our published rubric (128 m of gain per km, topping out at 1468 m).

PR 2 links the crater-like valley of Curral das Freiras to Madeira's north side, climbing from Fajã dos Cardos through terraces and dripping laurisilva to Boca das Torrinhas, the 1,450 m notch in the island's central ridge, then dropping almost 1,000 m to Lombo do Urzal above Boaventura. It is one of the few PR trails that crosses the massif rather than following a levada, so it stays quiet — but it is strictly point-to-point, ticketed, and about four and a half hours.

Quick facts

Distance9.5 km
Total ascent1220 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Moderate
Steepness128 m gain per km
High point1468 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 469 m · high point 1468 m · 1220 m total ascent over 9.5 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 485 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 2 — Vereda do Urzal?

The PR 2 — Vereda do Urzal is 9.5 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 1220 m.

How difficult is the PR 2 — Vereda do Urzal?

It rates Moderate on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 128 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1468 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 2 — Vereda do Urzal 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 2 — Vereda do Urzal?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.782, -16.979 — 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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