Madeira's Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation, known as IFCN, said on Thursday afternoon that 20 classified hiking trails are now passable. Another 19 trails remain closed, based on checks carried out so far.
IFCN said the list could still change as further checks are completed. The closures follow Depression Charles, which brought gusts of up to 130 km/h and heavy rain to the island between Tuesday night and Wednesday.
The decision to keep some trails closed also results from persistent problems in the access points to the start of the trails, as well as unstable ground conditions, following the effects of the depression that hit the regional territory.
IFCN
IFCN also asked the public to help identify and report any abnormal situations on the trails. It named fallen rocks, branches or trees blocking the paths, or anything else that could put hikers at risk.
Mainland Reopens 18 Trails Including Levada das 25 Fontes
The mainland accounts for 18 of the 20 reopened trails, including some of the island's best-known routes.
PR 1.1 - Vereda da Ilha
PR 1.2 - Vereda do Pico Ruivo
PR 5 - Vereda das Funduras
PR 6 - Levada das 25 Fontes
PR 6.1 - Levada do Risco
PR 6.2 - Levada do Alecrim
PR 6.3 - Vereda da Lagoa do Vento
PR 6.4 - Levada Velha do Rabaçal
PR 6.5 - Vereda do Pico Fernandes
PR 6.6 - Vereda do Túnel do Cavalo
PR 6.7 - Vereda da Câmara de Carga do Rabaçal
PR 6.8 - Levada do Paul II, a route built for all users
PR 8 - Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
PR 9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde
PR 9.1 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde, a route built for all users
PR 11 - Vereda dos Balcões
PR 18 - Levada do Rei
PR 22 - Vereda do Chão dos Louros
This figure of 18 is derived: IFCN's count of 20 open trails includes two on Porto Santo, covered below.
Vereda do Areeiro Stays Shut in Two Separate Stretches
The Vereda do Areeiro (PR 1) remains closed in two separate sections. IFCN lists both the one-way route and the stretch up to the Pedra Rija viewpoint as still shut.
Porto Santo Keeps One Trail Closed, Reopens the Rest
On Porto Santo, two routes are passable again. They are the Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã (PR 1) and the Vereda do Pico do Castelo (PR 2).
One Porto Santo trail stays closed: the Levada do Pico do Castelo (PR 3).
Other Closures Include Fanal, Furado and a Forest Road
Sixteen other mainland trails remain closed, alongside the two Areeiro sections above.
PR 1.3 - Vereda da Encumeada
PR 2 - Vereda do Urzal
PR 7 - Levada do Moinho
PR 10 - Levada do Furado
PR 12 - Caminho Real da Encumeada
PR 13 - Vereda do Fanal
PR 13.1 - Vereda da Palha Carga
PR 14 - Levada dos Cedros
PR 15 - Vereda da Ribeira da Janela
PR 16 - Levada Fajã do Rodrigues
PR 17 - Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal
PR 19 - Caminho Real do Paul do Mar
PR 20 - Vereda do Jardim do Mar
PR 21 - Caminho do Norte
PR 27 - Glaciar de Planalto
PR 28 - Levada da Rocha Vermelha
IFCN also kept closed the forest road linking Eira do Serrado to Pico do Areeiro, a route separate from its numbered trail list.
Source: jm-madeira.pt
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