V-PICOGRANDE (Vereda do Pico Grande) is a 4.7 km each way (9.3 km round trip), hard, 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 coastal forecast will not tell you what it is doing at 1605m 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 Vereda do Pico Grande is right now, then 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 Vereda do Pico Grande 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
2h55
Getting there by bus
The nearest public bus stop to the Vereda do Pico Grande trailhead is CAM Lombo Chão 1A (CF55), 1.1 km away. That is a straight line on the map and not a walk: on this terrain the climb between the two can matter more than the distance.
The timetable we hold ran until July 30, 2026 and no newer one has been published, so departure times are not shown. The stop and the lines serving it (181) are unchanged.
Horários do Funchal is the only Madeira operator that publishes a machine-readable timetable. A trail without this block is one we hold no bus data for, not one no bus reaches.
About Vereda do Pico Grande
This is the short, steep summit spur that leaves the PR12 Caminho Real da Encumeada and climbs to the top of Pico Grande, one of Madeira's high central peaks at around 1660 m. It is a mountain vereda rather than a levada walk: a narrow, rugged path that starts among trees and finishes with hands-on scrambling over the bare rock cap near the top. From the summit you get a full sweep across the Curral das Freiras valley, the Pico Ruivo and Pico do Arieiro massif, and on clear days both coasts and the ocean.
Vereda do Pico Grande (V-PICOGRANDE) is a round trip route of about 9.3 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in a mountain summit, exposed, drop-side sections, panoramic viewpoints, high mountain terrain and waterfalls.
Landmarks on the route include Relvinha, Pico Grande, Boca da Corrida, Serradinho and Cavalo.
The path runs between roughly 1,148 m and 1,605 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Pico Grande rates as hard on our objective scale, based on 9.3 km round trip and 1,188 m of ascent.
This grade is an estimate from distance, ascent and exposure, not an official IFCN rating.
How long it takes
Allow about 1h 30m 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 Boca da Corrida (PR12). Ends at Pico Grande summit. There is a car park at the start, though its size is not recorded on the map.
Best time to walk it
Apr to Oct; avoid winter (wind, cloud, slick rock on the exposed summit)
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 Vereda do Pico Grande worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Vereda do Pico Grande, 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 Vereda do Pico Grande?
Vereda do Pico Grande is about 9.3 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda do Pico Grande?
Vereda do Pico Grande rates as hard based on its distance, ascent and exposure (an objective estimate, not an official IFCN grade).
How long does Vereda do Pico Grande take to walk?
Allow about 1h 30m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Pico Grande?
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 Vereda do Pico Grande free to walk?
Yes. Vereda do Pico Grande 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 Vereda do Pico Grande start and finish?
Vereda do Pico Grande starts at Boca da Corrida (PR12) and finishes at Pico Grande summit.
What will I see on Vereda do Pico Grande?
Highlights include a mountain summit, exposed, drop-side sections, panoramic viewpoints, high mountain terrain and waterfalls.
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Pico Grande?
Apr to Oct; avoid winter (wind, cloud, slick rock on the exposed summit)
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Pico Grande?
Levadas scores Vereda do Pico Grande 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.