Rocha Vermelha with Return Sections: from Fanal along the Water Channel: hiking in Portugal
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Rocha Vermelha with Return Sections: from Fanal along the Water Channel

Distance
21.4 km
Time
9 h 44 min
Elevation gain
—
Difficulty
Hard
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Route description

Rocha Vermelha reveals how water found a route through Madeira’s mountains: stairways follow the channel, narrow paths skirt wooded slopes and the passage eventually enters a tunnel. This version begins on the Fanal side and includes returns along sections of the levada before reaching the lower end beside the channel keepers’ house. Save it for a future visit: PR 28 is officially closed at present. Do not plan to walk this passage until reopening is confirmed.

Route status

Проверяем свежесть данных по треку и учитываем сообщения сообщества

Запретов на посещение и пожаров рядом нет

Проверяем спутниковые данные о пожарах и предупреждения по региону.

Следить за маршрутом
Подробнее о состоянии маршрута No recent trail condition reports
Data source Information prepared

The description, logistics and points of interest were prepared using maps and open sources. Trail conditions may change.

Route data was imported from GPX and has not been field-verified.

Last updated 12.10.2026

Before travelling, check trail access, restrictions and the weather forecast.

Current conditions No recent trail condition reports

Conditions may have changed. Share a report after completing the route.

Community experience

Recent completions

0

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Elevation profile

gentle climb steep

Surface

Dirt / grass 17% · Artificial surface 1% · Unknown 83%

Surface data covers 3.73 km of 21.4 km; the rest of the track is not yet classified.

Dirt / grass 17% · 3.72 km
Artificial surface 1% · 0.01 km
Unknown 83% · 17.6 km

Before you go

Всё важное о маршруте

Route at a glance

Главное за минуту
After reopening, the reason to choose Rocha Vermelha is the water system itself. Changes in the channel, the Ribeira Grande crossing and the underground continuation form an engineering story within the laurel forest. This version’s repeated passages will require extra attention to energy and available daylight.
Length
21.4 km
Elevation gain
2076 m
Surface
Dirt / grass 17%
Rocha Vermelha with Return Sections: from Fanal along the Water Channel: route photo 5 in Portugal

Route suitability

Кому будет комфортно
Without a car: Hard With children: No With a dog: No data By bike: No With a stroller: No Mobile signal: No data

Nearby

Rabaçal House and the 25 Fontes Cascade belong to other visits and are outside the automatic programme of this passage. Connecting to the upper levada requires a separate path choice and rule check. While PR 28 remains closed, choose another officially open walk without using it to circumvent the closure.

Getting there

Варианты и важные моменты Show on map
Without a car
A direct regular service to this exact Fanal departure is not confirmed. After official reopening, arrange delivery to the ER209 entrance and collection from a genuinely accessible finishing point. Fanal and the channel keepers’ house should not be treated as one collection location. Do not book transport for walking closed PR 28.
By car
The road approach to the departure is from ER209 at Fanal, followed by the walking path Vereda do Fanal. Once the trail reopens, confirm access to this entrance and a safe drop-off place. The lower end beside the keepers’ house is not established as a vehicle collection point. Choose a road exit separately from the walking endpoint.
Parking
No parking information is confirmed for the chosen Fanal entrance. After reopening, establish permitted vehicle storage before travelling and include a return to the car. Keep the trail entrance and access required by service vehicles clear.

Электрички туда и обратно

Расписание на дату и время, до которого нужно выйти на маршрут

What to expect

Places
Levada da Rocha Vermelha the historic water channel, with stairways and an underground passage.
Ribeira Grande the named watercourse crossed by a narrow metal footbridge; water levels can be low.

Difficult sections and safety

На что обратить внимание
Elevation gainСуммарный набор высоты — 2076 м.
SurfaceDirt / grass 17%, Artificial surface 1%, Unknown 83%.
Риски PR 28 is closed: respect barriers and do not improvise a bypass. After reopening, steep steps, narrow channel-side passages, wet stone and the long tunnel will remain demanding. Every walker needs a personal light. Returns and branches increase the effort, and confident mountain-path walking is needed.

How much time to allow

Оцените свой темп
Расчётное время в пути 9 h 44 min
С запасом на остановки + 30–60 мин
Time for the complete passage is not established while the route is closed. The official timing for the usual PR 28 walk does not describe this version with repeated sections. After reopening, choose the visiting sequence and a real road exit, then allow separately for the tunnel, stops and returns. A specific day plan is unreliable before that.

Best time to go

Сезонность и рекомендации
Wait for official PR 28 reopening first. Then choose a dry day without strong wind, heavy rain or dangerous weather warnings. Woodland and tunnel surfaces can remain damp in clear weather. Check Rocha Vermelha’s own status: open neighbouring Rabaçal walks do not establish access to this passage.

What to bring

Базовый список для комфортного похода
A personal headlamp and spare batteries
Footwear for wet stone and mountain paths
Rain protection and a warm layer
Water, food and a small first-aid kit
A map of the levada and chosen road exit
A charged phone
Availability and booking confirmation after reopening

FAQ

Questions before the trip

Can I do this route without a car?

A direct regular service to this exact Fanal departure is not confirmed. After official reopening, arrange delivery to the ER209 entrance and collection from a genuinely accessible finishing point. Fanal and the channel keepers’ house should not be treated as one collection location. Do not book transport for walking closed PR 28

Is this route suitable for children?

Do not treat this as a basic child-friendly route: check difficulty, length, and trail conditions before going.

Can I download GPX and KML?

Yes, GPX and KML are available on the route page. Open the map, download the file, and use it in a navigator before your trip; key route facts: 21.4 km, hard.

Discussion

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