# Rabaçal Route > This route is a full-day journey through the wildest reaches of Montesinho. It is not a circuit of the hills but a traverse shaped by the river Rabaçal: its deep valleys, carved by millions of years of erosion, demand long zigzagging descents and the climbs that follow them, with around 2,700 metres of accumulated ascent. Compatible with Gravel. URL: https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/en/percurso/rota-do-rabacal - **Activity:** Mountain biking - **Distance:** 77.7 km - **Elevation gain:** 2844 m - **Elevation loss:** 2839 m - **Altitude:** 520–1194 m - **Estimated time:** 7h - **Technical difficulty:** Very hard (black) - **Route type:** Loop - **Best season:** Spring, Summer, Autumn - **Code:** VNH_BTT08PRT - **Centre:** [Vinhais](https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/en/) - **GPX:** https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/percurso/rota-do-rabacal/export-gpx **The river that carves the mountain** This route is a full-day journey through the wildest reaches of Montesinho. It is not a circuit of the hills but a traverse shaped by the river Rabaçal: its deep valleys, carved by millions of years of erosion, demand long zigzagging descents and the climbs that follow them, with around 2,700 metres of accumulated ascent. It is a black-rated route — the price and the reward of landscapes that few places can offer. Preparation and self-sufficiency are essential: beyond Quirás, at kilometre 34.7, support points are scarce, and it is advisable to carry food and water for the hills. **Start and finish at the Parque Biológico** The route is circular and begins and ends at the entrance to the Parque Biológico de Vinhais. It descends into Vinhais at kilometre 5.7, where cafés and restaurants are available, then heads westward through Soutelo at kilometre 10.5, which has a restaurant. **Towards Santalha** Cabeça da Igreja at kilometre 18.6, Penso at kilometre 21.7 — with the Chapel of Saint Marçal — and Santa Locaia at kilometre 24.1 precede Santalha at kilometre 25.7, which has a church and a café. Between Santalha and kilometre 27.8 the route descends to the lowest point of the day, at 520 metres, through one of the Rabaçal gorges, crossed by an old bridge. **The Zona da Lomba** Edroso at kilometre 31.2, with a fountain, and Quirás at kilometre 34.7, with a fountain, a community café and toilets, mark the entrance to the Zona da Lomba, the plateau between the Rabaçal and the river Mente. Vilarinho de Lomba lies at kilometre 37.4. Between kilometres 39 and 44 the track climbs approximately 280 metres. **Pinheiro Novo and Pinheiro Velho** Pinheiro Novo at kilometre 41.8 — with its community mill, church and the Anta do Vale do Carvalho Branco at kilometre 42.5 — is one of the most authentic villages in the municipality, just a few kilometres from the border. Pinheiro Velho at kilometre 46.2 has a church and a fountain. It is here that the hardest crossing begins: between kilometre 50 at 606 metres and kilometre 67 at 1,171 metres, the route climbs more than 550 metres, passing through Vilarinho das Touças at kilometre 53.7 — with a church and a fountain — Quadra at kilometre 59.1, and Landedo at kilometre 63.0, with the Chapel of Saint George and a fountain. **The Serra da Coroa** The highest point of the day, at 1,194 metres, is reached at kilometre 66.4, on the massif of the Serra da Coroa, territory of the Iberian wolf. The descent then follows to Travanca at kilometre 71.1, with a church and a fountain, and the Barragem de Prada at kilometre 74.8 is the last point of interest before the Parque Biológico. Those who finish with the legs for another black-rated crossing will find the Rota de Dine starting from the same point. ## Quick answers ### How long is the Rabaçal Route route and how much climbing does it have? 77.7 km, with 2844 m of elevation gain. It is a loop route. ### How long does the Rabaçal Route route take? About 7h (estimated time). ### Is the Rabaçal Route route difficult? The technical difficulty is very hard (black). Physical effort: 5 out of 5. ### When is the best time to ride or walk the Rabaçal Route route? Recommended season: spring, summer, autumn. ### Where does the Rabaçal Route route start? The route belongs to the Vinhais centre. ### Is the Rabaçal Route route waymarked? Yes, the route is waymarked on the ground. ### Where can I download the GPX for the Rabaçal Route route? The GPX track is available at https://rotasdosdiabos.pt/percurso/rota-do-rabacal/export-gpx.