Trails · Moderate

Caminho dos Burros: Vertente Norte

A long highland-to-coast descent through Pico's misty interior and native scrub down to the quiet Bay of Canas.

PicoPR02PICStatus unknownUpdated 18 October 2026

Cattle grazing in Pico's volcanic highlands.

The walk starts beside the Caminho das Lagoas lane in Pico's central highlands, near Cabeços do Mistério, among dense highland vegetation that includes a notable stand of the endemic Euphorbia stygiana and wide beds of sphagnum moss.

After the high ground, the path narrows and begins a long, steady descent toward the coast; near the bottom you choose between a dirt track to São Miguel Arcanjo or the route down to the Bay of Canas, continuing past Australian cheesewood, acacia and Azores laurel into the Prainha Forest Park.

Figure on about 3 h 30 for the 8.9 km route — mostly downhill, with close to 850 m of descent and only modest climbing, so footwear and knees matter more here than lungs.

Starting above 800 m, the upper section can sit in cloud even when the coast below is clear, so it's worth checking conditions before setting out.

Elevation · from the official GPX

Up and down the trail

Hover or drag along the chart — the dot follows on the map.

gentle < 8%steady 8–15%steep > 15%+74 m up · −837 m down · 11 m → 811 m

Plan your walk · MET Norway & IPMA

When to go

Pick a start time. We forecast where you'll be each hour — 11 m at the lowest point, 811 m at the top.

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Official facts, our words

What to know

Start & finish: Caminho das Lagoas, central highlands to Bay of Canas
Safety: The long, sustained descent is the main hazard here — loose ground and tired legs cause most stumbles — and the upper half, above 800 m, can sit in fog or cold wind even on a clear coastal day.
When to go: Expect mud and slick sphagnum beds on the high ground after rain; the descent is more comfortable in the drier months, when the dirt track firms up.

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The route