CR23 (Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho) is a 1.1 km, easy, community route. Cost: free. Whether it is worth hiking right now depends on live conditions and today's official status, re-checked every 20 minutes in the live app.
Madeira
A forecast for the nearest town is not a forecast for this path. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
You have already picked the walk. The pass answers the one question left, whether today is the morning worth the drive: it reads the live weather on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho as a free GPX file, no signup. Load it into Garmin, Komoot, AllTrails, Gaia GPS or OsmAnd and follow the route offline, even where there is no phone signal.
ⓘ Source & safety
Track and waypoints from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Planning aid, not a safety guarantee. Check the official trail status and conditions before you go.Estimated hiking time
17min
About Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho
A short but steep historic royal path on Madeira's north coast, starting beside the natural pools and old sea gate at Calhau de São Jorge and climbing the hillside through patches of vegetation and former farming ground. It follows one of the island's old caminhos reais, the main roads that once linked the villages to the coastal ports. The reward for the steady ascent is wide open views over the Atlantic and down into the São Jorge valley.
Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho (CR23) is a one way route of about 1.1 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect historic features, a deep valley, a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
Landmarks on the route include Cabeço da Vigia.
The path runs between roughly 13 m and 214 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 1.1 km and 38 m of ascent.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 21m one way, a point-to-point route.
The app's live 0-100 score also flags the latest safe start time for the day. See it in the app.
Getting there and back
Starts at Achada do Gramacho. Ends at Calhau de São Jorge. This is a one-way route, so you finish where your car is not: plan a second car, a taxi from the far end, or the walk back before you set off. A car park is mapped for this route, though its size is not recorded. The car park is about 420 m from the start. One-way climb; walk back downhill the same way, or arrange a taxi from Achada do Gramacho.
Best time to walk it
Year-round; the steep climb is hot in summer, and the coastal start can be rough in winter swell
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
This route runs through a mix of sun and shade.
The sun and shade reading comes from the slope's aspect and steepness, so it describes terrain shading and not tree cover.
A live 0-100 score picks the best 30-minute window for the day. See today's window in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho, the safe-start window, how busy it is and the official IFCN status, then gives one honest go-or-wait score from 0 to 100, re-checked every 20 minutes. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance: an official IFCN closure always overrides the score, no matter how good the weather looks.
How long is Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho?
Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho is about 1.1 km (one way).
How difficult is Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho?
Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
How long does Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho take to walk?
Allow about 21m.
Can I download a GPX track for Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho?
Yes. Tap Download GPX on this page: the first download on any device asks for an email so we can also send the free trail pack, then every later trail downloads instantly.
Is Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho free to walk?
Yes. Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho needs no reservation and has no fee. Only the regulated official PR trails require a paid SIMplifica booking; this one you simply walk.
Where does Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho start and finish?
Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho starts at Achada do Gramacho and finishes at Calhau de São Jorge.
What will I see on Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho?
Highlights include historic features, a deep valley, a mountain summit, laurel forest (laurisilva) and coastal cliffs and ocean views.
When is the best time to hike Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho?
Year-round; the steep climb is hot in summer, and the coastal start can be rough in winter swell
How do I check live conditions for Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho?
Levadas scores Caminho Real nº23 Achada do Gramacho from 0 to 100 using live weather along the path and the official status, refreshed every 20 minutes. You also see how busy it is. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.