PR4Wolf Route

The roof of the concelho, in wolf territory

This route climbs to the highest point in the concelho of Vinhais, passing through the heart of the Iberian wolf's home range. The trail does not bear an animal's name for decoration: the central massif of Serra da Coroa is a documented passage point for the species, and it is through this massif that walkers spend almost the entire day. The wolf rarely shows itself. What does show itself is the mountain range that still allows it to survive, and that alone is rare enough.

This is a route for those who enjoy long walks, covering around twenty kilometres. The distance demands strong legs, yet the terrain is generous: gentle gradients and a surface that presents no technical difficulty from the first kilometre to the last.

Start and finish at the Parque Biológico

The route is circular and begins and ends at the Parque Biológico de Vinhais. Those who have visited the Parque will have already seen the region's wildlife at close quarters; here one steps out through the gate and goes in search of it where it actually lives. Two paths lead from the Parque up to the mountain, one on each slope, and the route uses both: to the west, little-used agricultural tracks; to the east, the irrigation channels of the Barragem de Prada.

Travanca

Travanca is the only village on the route and is crossed almost from end to end, with the Igreja de Travanca, the fountain, and the Capela de Santa Madalena along the way. It lies between the Parque Biológico and the summit, roughly five and a half kilometres from the former and three from the latter, and from here the destination leaves no room for doubt: the path points straight to the top.

The summit of Serra da Coroa

At 1,273 metres above sea level stands the highest point in the concelho. The view spans 360 degrees and, when the clouds permit, reaches to almost every corner of Vinhais. To the north, the border is visible, along with the Spanish mountains and the village of Moimenta, settled on its plateau. At the top stands the fire-watch post, sentinel of the mountain range during the fire season, and the Mamoa da Coroa is a reminder that this summit was already a place of human presence thousands of years ago.

Eyes open

In this part of the mountain range, forest alternates with open ground offering good visibility, and this is where it is worth walking slowly and quietly. Roe deer and foxes are commonly sighted, as are golden eagles soaring above the ridges. And who knows — with luck and an early start — a wolf in the distance. If it is not seen, it is almost certain that it has seen the walkers.

The eastern slope

The eastern face of the mountain range looks out over another valley and other villages, Dine and Fresulfe. The path comes close to Prada and, without passing the dam itself, follows its irrigation channels, with water running alongside every step, all the way back to the Parque Biológico. Those who carry the memory of Moimenta, glimpsed from the summit, have good reason to return the following day: it is there that the Museu do Contrabando and the PR7 · Trilho da Calçada are to be found.