PR6 (Levada das 25 Fontes) is a 4.3 km each way (8.6 km round trip), easy, 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.
Also known as the “25 Springs”
Madeira
A coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1288m 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 Levada das 25 Fontes 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.
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Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada das 25 Fontes 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
1h11
About Levada das 25 Fontes
Both trails begin from Rabaçal (ER105) and descend to the Rabaçal shelter. The Risco branch reaches an impressive waterfall on the Risco stream. The 25 Fontes branch follows the Levada das 25 Fontes to the Spring Lagoon (Lagoa das 25 Fontes), fed by water emerging from the rock wall. Runs through laurisilva (UNESCO World Heritage). The return leg is a separate path, not the same channel walked backwards: it runs through the Rabaçal Tunnel, a stretch of roughly 800 m to a kilometre cut through the mountain, unlit and flatter than the outbound levada. A torch is essential; hikers who prefer to stay in daylight can skip it and retrace the outbound path instead.
Levada das 25 Fontes (PR6) is a round trip route of about 8.6 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Along the way you'll find a lagoon, endemic Madeiran flora, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
Landmarks on the route include Risco.
The path runs between roughly 964 m and 1,288 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada das 25 Fontes rates as easy on our objective scale, based on 8.6 km round trip, 195 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 for the round trip (you return the same way).
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 Rabaçal. Ends at 25 Fontes. The car park at the start has room for about 50.
What to bring
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; the Risco and 25 Fontes waterfalls run strongest in spring after winter rain. Summer is driest and busiest, so start early.
Most of this route sits in shade, which keeps it walkable on days when open ground is punishing.
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
Levada das 25 Fontes 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 officially open.
One-way circulation: walk Rabaçal to 25 Fontes outward along the Levada das 25 Fontes, and return to Rabaçal via the alternate Bypass section. The full trail is open.
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 das 25 Fontes worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada das 25 Fontes, 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 das 25 Fontes?
Levada das 25 Fontes is about 8.6 km round trip.
How difficult is Levada das 25 Fontes?
Levada das 25 Fontes rates as easy based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
Is Levada das 25 Fontes safe?
Levada das 25 Fontes is a low-exposure route, so a drop beside the path is not the thing to plan around. It reaches 1,288 m, and the weather up there is not the weather at the coast. 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 das 25 Fontes, 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 das 25 Fontes take to walk?
Allow about 3h for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada das 25 Fontes?
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 Levada das 25 Fontes?
Yes. Levada das 25 Fontes 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 Levada das 25 Fontes start and finish?
Levada das 25 Fontes starts at Rabaçal and finishes at 25 Fontes.
What will I see on Levada das 25 Fontes?
Highlights include a lagoon, endemic Madeiran flora, a levada water-channel path, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and laurel forest (laurisilva).
When is the best time to hike Levada das 25 Fontes?
Year-round; the Risco and 25 Fontes waterfalls run strongest in spring after winter rain. Summer is driest and busiest, so start early.
Is Levada das 25 Fontes open right now?
IFCN lists Levada das 25 Fontes as officially open: One-way circulation: walk Rabaçal to 25 Fontes outward along the Levada das 25 Fontes, and return to Rabaçal via the alternate Bypass section. The full trail is open.. Status can change, so check the latest before you go.
How do I check live conditions for Levada das 25 Fontes?
Levadas scores Levada das 25 Fontes 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.