Madeira's Hardest Hikes
Ridge scrambles, long levadas with tunnels and 1,000 m+ days for experienced walkers.
Selection: Official trails graded hard, or moderate routes with over 600 m elevation gain or 14 km distance.
Madeira's hardest official walks are surprisingly serious — exposed ridges with thousand-metre drops, long tunnel sections, and weather that can flip from sunshine to whiteout in twenty minutes. The PR1 Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo traverse is the headline route and deserves its reputation. The list below covers the full hard tier: bring map, layers, headlamp and a flexible plan.
The list (19)
1.Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo
TrailsMadeira's most iconic ridge hike, connecting the island's second and highest peaks across exposed ridges, stairs and tunnels.
7 km590 m gain~4 hhard2.Pico Grande
TrailsSteep ridge ascent to one of Madeira's most striking peaks, with 360° views over Curral das Freiras.
13 km900 m gain~6 hhard3.Levada da Ribeira da Janela
TrailsLong, wild levada through dense laurisilva on the north-west plateau. Multiple tunnels — headlamp required.
17 km300 m gain~6 hhard4.Levada do Caldeirão do Inferno
TrailsExtension of Caldeirão Verde reaching a wilder, deeper amphitheatre — long, exposed sections, several tunnels.
18 km300 m gain~7 hhard5.Caminho Real da Encumeada
TrailsHistoric royal road across the central mountain pass linking Boca da Corrida to Encumeada, with views into Curral das Freiras.
13 km700 m gain~5 hhard6.Levada dos Cedros + Vereda do Fanal
TrailsLoop link-up combining PR14 Levada dos Cedros and PR13 Vereda do Fanal — a full circuit through the ancient Fanal laurel forest, often wrapped in mist.
10.4 km loop1043 m gain~5 hhard7.Levada Fajã do Rodrigues
TrailsShort, dramatic levada from Ginjas (São Vicente) ending at a cliff-pierced tunnel above a green ravine.
5 km loop884 m gain~3 hhard8.Levada da Serra do Faial
TrailsLong, gently sloping levada around the eastern flank of the central massif. Many entry points — good for half-day walks.
18 km200 m gain~5 hmoderate9.Pico das Torres
TrailsOff-trail scramble to Madeira's second-highest peak — only for experienced mountaineers; no marked path.
5 km500 m gain~4 hhard10.Vereda da Encumeada
TrailsLong, demanding traverse from Encumeada to Pico Ruivo — exposed ridges, no shelter, requires good weather.
11.4 km1050 m gain~6 hhard11.Vereda do Urzal
TrailsSteep descent from the central plateau to the north-coast hamlet of Boaventura through laurel forest and old farming terraces.
9 km750 m gain~4 hhard12.Levada do Norte
TrailsOne of Madeira's longest levadas — 60 km total, most walked between Cabo Girão and Boa Morte through banana and vine country.
14 km250 m gain~5 hmoderate13.Vereda da Penha de Águia
TrailsSteep, demanding climb up the iconic 'Eagle Rock' between Faial and Porto da Cruz — short distance, brutal gradient.
3.5 km590 m gain~3 hhard14.Vereda da Lagoa do Vento
TrailsQuiet branch off the 25 Fontes route descending steeply to a hidden waterfall and lagoon — slippery, not signposted.
9 km450 m gain~4 hhard15.Levada do Alecrim
TrailsLoop from Rabaçal along the rosemary-lined Levada do Alecrim with a steep descent to the Lagoa do Vento waterfall and lagoon — quieter alternative to the 25 Fontes crowds.
6.6 km loop450 m gain~4 hhard16.Levada da Central da Ribeira da Janela
TrailsTunnel-heavy levada along the wild Ribeira da Janela valley — five long tunnels, requires a headlamp and waterproofs.
15 km300 m gain~5 hhard17.Vereda da Achadas da Cruz
TrailsShort, very steep descent (or cable-car) to a tiny farming fajã on Madeira's western tip, 450 m below the cliff.
2 km450 m gain~2 hhard18.Vereda do Trompica
TrailsForgotten footpath linking Curral das Freiras to Boaventura over the central ridge — wild, faint trail for experienced walkers.
12 km900 m gain~6 hhard19.Pico do Areeiro to Pico das Torres
TrailsShort out-and-back from PR1 to a side-summit of the central massif — same exposed ridges, fewer hikers.
4 km350 m gain~2.5 hhard
Practical notes
- Check IPMA forecast and IFCN trail status the night before. Cancel or reroute if cloud is below 1,500 m.
- Headlamp + spare batteries: PR1 alone has three tunnels totalling ~500 m.
- Start at sunrise. Afternoon weather is worse and rescues take time.
- Wear over-ankle boots — the basalt steps on PR1 chew low-cut shoes.
Frequently asked
- How hard is PR1 (Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo)?
- Genuinely hard. About 7 km one way, 590 m of climbing, 4–5 hours, with multiple exposed ridge sections and three tunnels. Doable for fit hikers in good weather; dangerous in cloud or rain.
- Can I do PR1 round-trip?
- Yes but it doubles to ~14 km and 1,100 m of climbing — a long day. Most visitors arrange a one-way shuttle so they only walk the traverse in one direction.