PR17 (Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal) is a 15.0 km, hard, official IFCN route that requires a SIMplifica booking. Cost: €4.50 per person. 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 coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1490m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Is today the day?
The difference between a clear morning above the clouds and a wet, foggy drive is knowing before you go. Levadas reads the live weather, the safe-start window and how busy Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Advance booking required via SIMplifica
The slot is €4.50 per person, tied to the day and time you pick. Book it on the right day, the first time.
Book now on SIMplifica How to book this trail Which trails are freeDownload GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal 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
3h57
About Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal
Point-to-point route from Lombo do Mouro to Encumeada, passing Folhadal and the Levada da Serra. Crosses a high-altitude area of Laurissilva forest (UNESCO World Natural Heritage, Rede Natura 2000), with views over the Ribeira Brava valley. An old public path linking the north and south of the island; at Encumeada it connects to the route up to Pico Ruivo.
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal (PR17) is a one way route of about 15.0 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and laurel forest (laurisilva).
Landmarks on the route include Lapa do Galho, Encumeada, Pináculo, Bica da cana and Cedro.
The path runs between roughly 970 m and 1,490 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 15.0 km, 572 m of ascent and high exposure.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 6h 30m 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 Lombo do Mouro. Ends at Encumeada. 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. The car park at the start has room for about 30.
What to bring
This trail passes through 6 tunnels, so bring a head torch.
One drinking-water point is mapped on the route. Fill up if you pass it, but carry enough to finish without it.
Best time to walk it
Late spring to autumn; the high laurisilva is wettest and most slippery in winter, and clear mornings give the best Folhadal views.
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.
Booking
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal is a regulated trail with a daily visitor cap, so you must reserve a timed slot in advance through SIMplifica before you go. The official fee is around €4.50 per person. Levadas does not sell tickets or make the reservation for you.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently open with conditions.
a passable route between Encumeada and Bica da Cana
IFCN reports this route walkable between Encumeada Folhadal and Bica da Cana, by way of Caramujo.
IFCN's wording, in Portuguese: “entre a Encumeada Folhadal – Caramujo - Bica da Cana”
IFCN's own status page is dated 24 Jul 2026. The date above (20 Aug 2026) is ours: it records when we last read that page, not when IFCN wrote it.
Official status can change, so always check the latest before you go.
Fire and other live hazards near this trail are tracked on the Madeira trail alerts page
Frequently asked questions
Is Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal, 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 do Pináculo e Folhadal?
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal is about 15.0 km (one way).
How difficult is Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal?
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal safe?
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal is a high-exposure route: long unfenced stretches with a drop beside the path. It reaches 1,490 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. 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 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal, 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 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal take to walk?
Allow about 6h 30m.
Can I download a GPX track for Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal?
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.
Do I need to book Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal?
Yes. Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal is a regulated trail with a daily cap, so you must reserve a timed slot through SIMplifica in advance. The official fee is around €4.50 per person.
Where does Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal start and finish?
Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal starts at Lombo do Mouro and finishes at Encumeada.
What will I see on Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal?
Highlights include a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints, a mountain summit and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal?
Late spring to autumn; the high laurisilva is wettest and most slippery in winter, and clear mornings give the best Folhadal views.
Are there tunnels on Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal? Do I need a torch?
Yes, Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal passes through 6 tunnels, so bring a head torch.
Is Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal open right now?
IFCN lists Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal as open with conditions. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal?
Levadas scores Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal 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.