V-PICOPAUL (Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl) is a 0.9 km each way (1.8 km round trip), 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 1629m up on this ridge. That is what the live score is for.
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 Ruivo do Paúl is right now, then 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 Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl 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 Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl
An open plateau walk across the windswept Paúl da Serra to the Pico Ruivo do Paúl, at 1640 m the highest point of Madeira's western highlands. A 360-degree panorama over the high bog and down to both coasts on a clear day; fully exposed, so check the weather.
Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl (V-PICOPAUL) is a round trip route of about 1.8 km in Madeira.
What you'll see
Expect a mountain summit and panoramic viewpoints.
Landmarks on the route include Ruivo do Paul.
The path runs between roughly 1,571 m and 1,629 m above sea level, so conditions can change with altitude.
Difficulty
Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl is officially graded medium by IFCN, based on 1.8 km round trip and 87 m of ascent.
How long it takes
Allow about 45m 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 Estanquinhos (Paul da Serra). Ends at Pico Ruivo do Paúl (1640 m). There is a car park at the start, though its size is not recorded on the map.
Best time to walk it
Year-round; avoid wet/foggy days
High trails are best early: clear summits and the chance of a sunrise above the clouds before the cloud builds.
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 Ruivo do Paúl 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 Ruivo do Paúl, 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 Ruivo do Paúl?
Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl is about 1.8 km round trip.
How difficult is Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl?
Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl is officially graded medium by IFCN.
How long does Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl take to walk?
Allow about 45m for the round trip.
Can I download a GPX track for Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl?
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 Ruivo do Paúl free to walk?
Yes. Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl 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 Ruivo do Paúl start and finish?
Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl starts at Estanquinhos (Paul da Serra) and finishes at Pico Ruivo do Paúl (1640 m).
What will I see on Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl?
Highlights include a mountain summit and panoramic viewpoints.
When is the best time to hike Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl?
Year-round; avoid wet/foggy days
How do I check live conditions for Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl?
Levadas scores Vereda do Pico Ruivo do Paúl 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.