PR-LN (Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho) is a 4.0 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.
Ten seconds, one tap, from €2.99 once. No subscription.
Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho 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
1h12
About Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho
A circular levada walk above Ponta do Sol that links the lower Levada do Moinho with the higher Levada Nova, passing old watermill ruins, terraced farmland, and patches of forest along the water channels. The Levada Nova half turns dramatic, with narrow ledges and unprotected drops where the path clings to the cliff, so it suits walkers comfortable with heights rather than beginners. The standout moment is a rock tunnel followed by a waterfall that spills directly over the levada, with the trail running right beneath the falling water.
Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho (PR-LN) is a one way route of about 4.0 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in exposed, drop-side sections, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
The path passes cultural heritage nearby, including Capela do Espírito Santo.
The path runs between roughly 222 m and 438 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 4.0 km, 238 m of ascent and low exposure.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 3h.
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 Ponta do Sol. 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. There is a car park at the start, though its size is not recorded on the map.
What to bring
Passes through a rock tunnel of roughly 200 m on the Levada Nova section; bring a torch or headlamp.
3 drinking-water points are mapped along the route. Fill up where you can, but carry enough to finish without them.
Best time to walk it
Year-round; avoid right after heavy rain (flooding and slippery exposed ledges)
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 Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho, 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 Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho?
Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho is about 4.0 km (one way).
How difficult is Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho?
Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho safe?
Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. Part of it runs underground, so without a head torch you are walking in the dark. None of that tells you about today, and this page does not try to. Conditions decide, which is why Levadas reads the current weather on Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho, the safe-start window and the official IFCN status, then gives one go-or-wait score from 0 to 100. It is decision-support, not a safety clearance, and an official IFCN closure overrides the score however good the weather looks.
How long does Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho take to walk?
Allow about 3h.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho?
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 Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho free to walk?
Yes. Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho 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 Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho start and finish?
Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho starts at Ponta do Sol.
What will I see on Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho?
Highlights include exposed, drop-side sections, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho?
Year-round; avoid right after heavy rain (flooding and slippery exposed ledges)
Are there tunnels on Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho? Do I need a torch?
Passes through a rock tunnel of roughly 200 m on the Levada Nova section; bring a torch or headlamp.
How do I check live conditions for Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho?
Levadas scores Levada Nova / Levada do Moinho 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.