Status explained
How to read the dashboard
The dashboard is built to answer one question quickly: can this official route be considered for today's plan? The status label is the starting point, not the whole safety decision.
The status labels
Open
The route is currently listed as open in the source data. You still need to check weather, daylight, your group, and the route's terrain.
Restricted
The route is not simply open as normal. A restriction may affect a section, direction, schedule, access point, or safety condition. Read the official source before going.
Closed
Do not hike it. A closed route can involve unstable terrain, storm damage, rockfall, fire damage, or repair work.
Why a trail may be closed or restricted
Madeira routes can change quickly because the island is steep, wet in places, and geologically active at the walking scale: cliffs, volcanic soil, narrow paths, and water all interact with the weather.
Severe weather
Heavy rain, wind, fog, and storm damage can make a route unsafe even if nearby towns look calm.
Rockslides and landslides
When heavy rain hits, volcanic soil and cliff faces can become unstable, creating landslides and a high risk to hikers.
Wildfires
Fire can damage vegetation, signs, steps, railings, soil stability, and access roads long after smoke has cleared.
Structural repairs
Madeira trails often include stairs, railings, tunnels, levada edges, and cliff-side works that need maintenance before safe reopening.
How to use the table
- Filter by status first. If you only want normal options, start with open routes.
- Check the route basics. Compare distance, route type, duration, altitude, and start/end labels.
- Read the weather snapshot. Trailhead weather is context, not a full mountain forecast.
- Open the official source. Use the source button for route-specific notices and details.
- Use the map for orientation. Routes on the north, south, high center, and coast can have different weather on the same day.