PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela is one of Madeira's marked PR walking routes, in the north-west of the island above the village of Ribeira da Janela. It climbs through dense woodland on steps made of logs set into the slope, crossing a couple of streams on the way. There are no views from the path, as the trees enclose it on both sides. At its upper end the trail joins the Levada dos Cedros. The track is wet in ordinary weather and slippery after rain.
PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela
The steps are logs bedded into the slope, and the earth between them has washed away — every footfall lands on bare wet timber.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: the entrance has no step-free access and the route is a stepped log path.
- Parking
- Two car parks about 450 m and 500 m from the trailhead; the second is free of charge.
- Difficulty
- Steep and continuously stepped on embedded logs, with the earth between them washed away. Wet surface, muddy after rain.
- Transport
- Nearest bus stop about 1.1 km from the trailhead.
What makes it special
Trees close over the path on both sides, and there are no viewpoints along it. What the route has instead is the forest itself: eucalyptus scent the whole way, a damp overgrown canopy, and a couple of streams crossing the track. Near the lower end the woodland opens into a green clearing with benches, the one spot on the walk that gets sun.
The steps are logs bedded into the slope. The soil between them has washed away, so the timber itself is what you stand on, and it is usually wet. At the upper end the route meets the Levada dos Cedros, a flatter walk that many people carry on with rather than turning back.
Good to know
- Waymarking: boards marked PR15 stand at the trailhead, but the track itself is easy to lose. Have the route on your phone before you set off.
- Footwear: the track is wet in ordinary weather and muddy after rain. Boots with grip, not trainers.
- No views: woodland encloses the path on both sides. The only open ground is the clearing with benches near the lower end.
- Toilets and drinking water: free, within about 450 m of the trailhead.
- Linking on: the top of the trail meets the Levada dos Cedros, a longer and flatter walk.
Getting there
The trail runs between the village of Ribeira da Janela and the higher ground above it, and it can be walked in either direction. Most people drive: two car parks sit within about 500 m of the trailhead, and an information board marked PR15 stands at the start of the path. A bus stop lies about 1.1 km away. From the car parks it is road walking to the trailhead, and the climbing begins straight away on the log steps.
Best time to visit
Better: a dry spell. The log steps hold a boot far better dry than wet, and the mud between them drains.
Avoid: the morning after a night of rain. The track turns to mud and the timber becomes slick.
Weather on this side of the island moves fast, and torrential rain and clear blue sky can follow one another inside a single walk. Carry a waterproof even if the start is bright.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
PR15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela on the map
The log steps are wet and slippery, with nothing but timber to put a foot on. Ankles turn easily here. Descending is worse than climbing, and walkers who go up the trail often come back down to Ribeira da Janela along the road instead.
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Frequently asked questions
Are there views from the trail?
No. Woodland is dense on both sides for the length of the path, and the top is not a viewpoint either. The only open ground is a green clearing with benches near the lower end.Is the route easy to follow?
Boards marked PR15 stand at the trailhead, but on the ground the track is easy to lose. Load the route onto your phone before you start.How hard is the walking?
Steep and stepped throughout, on logs set into the slope. The soil between the logs has washed out, the surface is wet, and after rain it is muddy as well.Do you have to walk the whole trail?
No. The path has the same character from the start, and about half an hour in and back out gives you the canopy and the eucalyptus without the full climb.Can it be combined with another walk?
Yes. The upper end joins the Levada dos Cedros, a flatter and longer route, and that is where many walkers continue rather than returning down the logs.