PR28 (Levada da Rocha Vermelha) is a 10.7 km, medium, official IFCN 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 coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1287m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for. How the island splits one forecast into many: microclimate guide.
Go or wait today?
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 Levada da Rocha Vermelha is right now, then gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada da Rocha Vermelha 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
3h04
About Levada da Rocha Vermelha
PR28 is a levada walk that branches off the Fanal footpath and traces the Levada da Rocha Vermelha through the laurel forest above the Rabaçal valley in Madeira's wet northwest interior. The route is best known for passing through one of the longest tunnels on the island, where a torch is genuinely needed, and it strings together small waterfalls with open natural lookouts down into the Ribeira da Janela. It sits high, between roughly 800 and 1,300 m, with some narrow and exposed sections, so footing and weather matter more than the moderate grading suggests.
Levada da Rocha Vermelha (PR28) is a one way route of about 10.7 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in walk-through tunnels, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
Landmarks on the route include Paul and Rabaçal.
The path runs between roughly 779 m and 1,287 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada da Rocha Vermelha rates as medium on our objective scale, based on 10.7 km, 559 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 2h 51m.
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 Fanal. Ends at Lombo da Atouguia. 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 one of Madeira's longest levada tunnels, unlit and damp; bring a torch or headlamp and watch your head on the low rock ceiling.
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
Year-round, but the interior is often foggy and wet; avoid heavy rain (slippery levada edge, low visibility in the long tunnel)
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.
Official trail status
According to IFCN, as of 20 Aug 2026, this trail is currently officially closed.
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 Levada da Rocha Vermelha worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada da Rocha Vermelha, 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 da Rocha Vermelha?
Levada da Rocha Vermelha is about 10.7 km (one way).
How difficult is Levada da Rocha Vermelha?
Levada da Rocha Vermelha rates as medium based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada da Rocha Vermelha safe?
Levada da Rocha Vermelha is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,287 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 Levada da Rocha Vermelha, 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 da Rocha Vermelha take to walk?
Allow about 2h 51m.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada da Rocha Vermelha?
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 da Rocha Vermelha free to walk?
Yes. Levada da Rocha Vermelha 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 da Rocha Vermelha start and finish?
Levada da Rocha Vermelha starts at Fanal and finishes at Lombo da Atouguia.
What will I see on Levada da Rocha Vermelha?
Highlights include walk-through tunnels, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Levada da Rocha Vermelha?
Year-round, but the interior is often foggy and wet; avoid heavy rain (slippery levada edge, low visibility in the long tunnel)
Are there tunnels on Levada da Rocha Vermelha? Do I need a torch?
Passes through one of Madeira's longest levada tunnels, unlit and damp; bring a torch or headlamp and watch your head on the low rock ceiling.
Is Levada da Rocha Vermelha open right now?
IFCN lists Levada da Rocha Vermelha as officially closed. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Levada da Rocha Vermelha?
Levadas scores Levada da Rocha Vermelha 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.