Madeira trail status today: which walks are open or closed

What open, restricted and closed mean

Open means the whole trail can be walked as described. Restricted means only part of it is accessible or there are diversions: read the official note under the trail name, which explains which section you can walk. Closed means the trail must not be used at all; walking a closed trail is an offence and can be fined, and rescue is much harder if something goes wrong.

Trail names link to our own guides where we have one, and the arrow opens the official page on Visit Madeira. For the island's main walks in detail, see our hiking and levada guide.

Booking and fees

Since January 2026 every classified trail needs a booking on the SIMplifica portal, even when access is free, and most cost €4.50 per person for visitors over 12. The full PR1 from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo costs €10.50. Our guide to trail fees and SIMplifica booking explains how it works, and the PR1 guide covers Madeira's most famous walk.

Weather, rockfalls and closures

Most closures are temporary: heavy rain, strong wind, fog in the mountains, rockfalls or summer fire risk. When IPMA issues weather warnings for Madeira, IFCN often closes some or all trails until conditions improve and the paths have been checked. Look at the forecast for the mountains on our Madeira weather page before you go, and start early, as cloud usually builds in the afternoon.

If your trail is closed

There is almost always an open alternative nearby. Gentle levadas such as those in our easy levada walks guide are rarely affected, and local guides adapt their routes to the day's closures and conditions, so a guided hike is a safe way to keep a walking day when your plan falls through.