L-NOVASTCRUZ (Levada Nova de Santa Cruz) is a 7.3 km, medium, community route. 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 628m up here. That is what the live score is for.
Go or wait today?
At 628m, Levada Nova de Santa Cruz makes its own weather. A coastal forecast will not tell you what today looks like up here. The pass reads the live conditions on the trail and gives you one honest answer, re-checked every 20 minutes.
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Download GPX: free offline map
Grab the full GPS track and waypoints for Levada Nova de Santa Cruz 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.About Levada Nova de Santa Cruz
A loop on the Santa Cruz side of the island, stringing together the Levada Nova, the Levada do Moinho da Serra and a stretch of the Levada dos Tornos, with the stepped Vereda do Arvoredo linking them. It runs through worked terraces and shaded channel paths rather than open mountain, and the climb is spread across the loop instead of concentrated in one ascent. This is the Santa Cruz Levada Nova, one of four levadas on Madeira carrying that name.
Levada Nova de Santa Cruz (L-NOVASTCRUZ) is a loop route of about 7.3 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
The route takes in a levada water-channel path, laurel forest (laurisilva), panoramic viewpoints and waterfalls.
The path runs between roughly 377 m and 628 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Levada Nova de Santa Cruz is officially graded medium by IFCN, based on 7.3 km, 648 m of ascent and low exposure.
How long it takes
Allow about 2h 41m.
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 Gaula (loop start). Ends at Loop back to Gaula. A car park is mapped for this route, though its size is not recorded. The car park is about 560 m from the start. None (loop)
What to bring
Grippy shoes; some sections are stepped and can be slick after rain
Best time to walk it
Year-round
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 Levada Nova de Santa Cruz worth hiking today?
It depends on today's conditions, and that is exactly what Levadas answers. The app reads the current weather at Levada Nova de Santa Cruz, 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 Nova de Santa Cruz?
Levada Nova de Santa Cruz is about 7.3 km (loop).
How difficult is Levada Nova de Santa Cruz?
Levada Nova de Santa Cruz is officially graded medium by IFCN.
How long does Levada Nova de Santa Cruz take to walk?
Allow about 2h 41m.
Can I download a GPX track for Levada Nova de Santa Cruz?
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 Nova de Santa Cruz free to walk?
Yes. Levada Nova de Santa Cruz 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 Nova de Santa Cruz start and finish?
Levada Nova de Santa Cruz starts at Gaula (loop start) and finishes at Loop back to Gaula.
What will I see on Levada Nova de Santa Cruz?
Highlights include a levada water-channel path, laurel forest (laurisilva), panoramic viewpoints and waterfalls.
When is the best time to hike Levada Nova de Santa Cruz?
Year-round
How do I check live conditions for Levada Nova de Santa Cruz?
Levadas scores Levada Nova de Santa Cruz from 0 to 100 using live weather, official status and crowd signals, refreshed every 20 minutes. Open the trail in the app to see the live score and the best time to go today.