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PR 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha

PR 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha — the trail guide

The PR 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha is a 10.0 km trek in Portugal, typically walked in 1 day, with 956 m of total ascent. It rates Moderate on our published rubric (96 m of gain per km, topping out at 1295 m).

PR 28 traces the Levada da Rocha Vermelha, an irrigation channel cut across Madeira's wild west, from the ER 209 roadside at Fanal down to Lombo do Atouguia above Calheta. Walkers come for the UNESCO laurisilva, the mist-bent til trees of Fanal, and the long unlit tunnel that burrows straight under the ridge. It runs one way, roughly 10.8 km with 450 m of net descent, so you need two cars or a taxi pickup at the bottom, plus the compulsory online trail ticket.

Quick facts

Distance10.0 km
Total ascent956 m
Typical duration1 day
Difficulty (computed)Moderate
Steepness96 m gain per km
High point1295 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 808 m · high point 1295 m · 956 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 819 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°9°80 mm
Feb13°8°84 mm
Mar14°9°98 mm
Apr15°9°72 mm
May16°11°36 mm
Jun18°12°54 mm
Jul21°14°4 mm
Aug22°15°9 mm
Sep20°15°37 mm
Oct19°14°100 mm
Nov16°11°94 mm
Dec15°10°98 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PR 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha?

The PR 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha is 10.0 km, and most hikers complete it in 1 day. Total elevation gain is 956 m.

How difficult is the PR 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha?

It rates Moderate on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 96 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 1295 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 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha 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 28 — Levada da Rocha Vermelha?

In Portugal. The route starts near 32.746, -17.147 — 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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