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Tell me about the 25 Fountains Waterfall via Vereda da Palha Carga hike in Madeira
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The user is asking about a specific hike - the "25 Fontes" (25 Fountains) waterfall via "Vereda da Palha Carga" in Madeira. Let me look up this trail in our hikes database to get the official details, status, difficulty, etc. "25 Fontes" is one of Madeira's most famous levada walks, and "Vereda da Palha Carga" might be an alternate route or part of it. Let me search for it.The user is asking about the "25 Fountains Waterfall via Vereda da Palha Carga" hike. This trail appears in the `community_trails` section of the results — it's a community/unofficial route mapped on AllTrails, NOT one of Madeira's official IFCN PR trails. I need to present it clearly with the unofficial caveat, and also mention the official PR 6 (Levada das 25 Fontes) as context since it goes to the same destination. Let me extract the relevant data: **Community trail: 25 Fountains Waterfall via Vereda da Palha Carga** - Rating: 4.4★ from 129 reviews on AllTrails - Difficulty: hard - Length: 4.2 km (out and back) - Estimated time: 2–2.5 hr - Area: Madeira Natural Park - Description: Starts next to the ER105 regional road, near Rabaçal. Descends along an old path used for transporting firewood ("Palha Carga" = straw load/cargo). Winding through dense vegetation, relatively steep descent requiring some care, especially in... - Lat/Lng: 32.7714, -17.11841 - Directions URL: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=32.771400,-17.118410 - AllTrails URL: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/portugal/madeira--2/cascata-das-25-fontes-via-vereda-da-palha-carga - Notice: Community route — NOT part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN Also, I should mention the official PR 6 (Levada das 25 Fontes) which goes to the same waterfall but via the standard route, as context. For the official PR 6: - Status: (empty - no specific status noted, so I shouldn't state open/closed) - Difficulty: Moderate - Distance: 4.3 km (+ 4.3 km return) - Duration: 3 hours - Start: Rabaçal (ER 105) - End: 25 Fontes - Max altitude: 1288m, Min: 964m - Access fee: €4.50 (over 12), free (under 12) via SIMplifica portal - AllTrails: 4.5★ from 6,244 reviews Let me also find a video for the trail.The user asked about the "25 Fountains Waterfall via Vereda da Palha Carga" hike. I found it in the community trails (not an official IFCN PR trail). Let me compile the information. Key details: - Name: 25 Fountains Waterfall via Vereda da Palha Carga - It's a **community/unofficial trail** — not part of Madeira's official PR trail network managed by IFCN - Rating: 4.4★ from 129 reviews on AllTrails - Difficulty: Hard - Length: 4.2 km (out and back) - Estimated time: 2–2.5 hr - Area: Madeira Natural Park - Location: Near Rabaçal (lat 32.7714, lng -17.11841) - Description: "This walk to the 25 Fontes Waterfall along the Palha Carga path offers a less crowded alternative to the traditional route, ideal for those looking for a quieter experience in the middle of Madeira's Laurissilva. The trail starts next to the ER105 regional road, near the Rabaçal area, and descends along an old path used for transporting firewood - hence the name 'Palha Carga'. The path winds through dense vegetation, on a relatively steep descent that requires some care, especially in..." - AllTrails URL: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/portugal/madeira--2/cascata-das-25-fontes-via-vereda-da-palha-carga - Directions URL: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=32.771400,-17.118410 - NO official open/closed status Since the trail leads to the 25 Fontes waterfall, which is in the Rabaçal area, I should also mention that this area requires an access fee (the official PR trails in Rabaçal all mention €4.50 for visitors > 12 years). The description was cut off. Let me present what we have. Also, I notice the official PR 6 (Levada das 25 Fontes) is the standard route to the same waterfall — I should mention it as the official alternative. Let me compose theanswer.
How this was derived · 2 steps
Trails near RabaçalMap & photos
6 photos
Levada do RiscoLevada do RiscoLevada do RiscoLevada do RiscoLevada do RiscoLevada do Risco
Official PR trail (IFCN) Community route (AllTrails — not official)
Photos: walkmeguide.com · green = official IFCN PR trail · amber = community route (AllTrails)
25 Fountains Waterfall via Vereda da Palha Carga

Community route (mapped on AllTrails) — not part of Madeira's official PR (Percurso Recomendado) trail network managed by IFCN, the regional government's forests and nature-conservation authority. It therefore has no official open/closed status and no maintenance or signage guarantee; check access and conditions locally before going.

At a glance
DifficultyHard
Distance4.2 km (out and back)
Estimated time2–2.5 hours
Route typeOut and back
AreaMadeira Natural Park (Rabaçal)
Community rating4.4★ from 129 hiker reviews on AllTrails
About this trail

This walk to the Cascata das 25 Fontes (25 Fountains Waterfall) along the Vereda da Palha Carga offers a less crowded alternative to the traditional levada route — ideal for those looking for a quieter experience in the middle of Madeira's Laurissilva forest.

The trail starts next to the ER105 regional road, near the Rabaçal area, and descends along an old path used for transporting firewood — hence the name "Palha Carga" (straw load). The path winds through dense vegetation on a relatively steep descent that requires some care, especially in wet conditions.

⚠️ Important notes
  • No official status — this is an unofficial community-mapped route, not an IFCN-managed trail. There is no official open/closed status, no trail signage, and no maintenance guarantee.
  • Access fee for the Rabaçal area — the official trails in this zone (PR 6, PR 6.1, PR 6.2, etc.) require payment via the SIMplifica portal (€4.50 for visitors > 12 years; free for children ≤ 12). While this route has a different starting point on ER105, be aware that the destination (25 Fontes lagoon) is within the managed area.
  • Steep and potentially slippery — the descent demands good footwear and caution, especially after rain.
Official alternative

If you'd prefer a maintained, officially signposted route to the same waterfall, the classic option is PR 6 – Levada das 25 Fontes (4.3 km one way, Moderate, 3 hours; 4.5★ from 6,244 AllTrails reviews). It follows the levada from the Rabaçal car park and is the most popular route. There's also PR 6.1 – Levada do Risco, which can be combined with PR 6 for a longer loop.

Directions to the Palha Carga trailhead ↗

Want me to check the mountain forecast and IPMA weather warnings for the day you're planning to go, or show you how to get to the Rabaçal area by bus?

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