The Trilha da Águia do Sarilhão is quite curious, as it alternates between some of the most beautiful landscapes in Portugal and long stretches on the side of the road. Furthermore, passing by the Vilarinho da Furna dam is ideal for those who like to combine hiking with diving on river beaches and natural lagoons.
With around 10 km and an accumulated difference of almost 400 meters concentrated mainly in the middle of the route, the Águia do Sarilhão trail – PR6 is moderately difficult. The way we like it is that it’s a circular trail, and there is ample parking at the beginning/end, so you won’t have to worry about logistics.
The moderate difficulty results mainly from the steep climbs and descents near the Vilarinho da Furna reservoir. Some parts are slightly technical, with some rocks in certain sections, but nothing that a person accustomed to hiking can’t do with relative ease.
The entire trail is very well signposted, but we always advise you to download it to your GPS in case you get lost.
Sarilhão Eagle Trail – general information
- Name: Águia do Sarilhão trail
- Start: Porta do Campo Gerês
- End: Porta do Campo Gerês
- Distance: 9 km
- Time necessary: Officially, it was about 3 hours, but we took about 5 hours, including all the stops.
- Difficulty – Moderate
- Max/min altitude: 675 / 570 meters
- Altitude Gain: about 400 meters
- Type: Circular
- Signs (1-5) – 5 – It is very well signed.
- Hightlights: Geira Romana, Vilarinho das Furna Dam, Eixões Bridge, Fraga do Sarilhão
- You can download the flyer here.
Our experience on the Águia do Sarilhão trail
The Trilho da Águia do Sarilhão is a circular route that begins and ends at Porta do Campo do Gerês. There, you will find an information panel and arrows indicating the recommended route. It is possible to do it in both directions, but we will follow the recommended direction, which is counterclockwise.
The first part of the route is always alongside the road. First, from the National Park Gate to the village of Campo do Gerês, crossing the village until finally turning right into a forested area. This first phase is not particularly beautiful or interesting and, in our opinion, may not even be part of the trail.
The advantage of this short warm-up of around 1.5 km is that we pass by several cafes where you can buy snacks or have something to drink before starting the “real” walk.
After leaving the road, we entered the forest. Initially, the terrain is undulating for about 1 km, followed by a 500-meter climb that takes us to the trail’s highest point. From here, we have an excellent view of Fraga da Águia do Sarilhão, where golden eagles used to nest.
Tip
Pay attention to the landscape near Águia do Sarilhão, as a spectacular waterfall usually forms after a few days of rain.
We begin a steep descent from here, first to the road and then to the dam reservoir. We advise you to be very careful, as this descent is quite steep and sometimes slippery due to the stones and gravel floor. It is important to be careful and wear suitable shoes for hiking, with the beginning of the descent being the most complicated part.
Interestingly, or perhaps not, this is also the most beautiful part of the trail. We begin to enter the dense forest of Mata da Albergaria and later arrive at the bank of the Barragem reservoir. It’s just a little over a km, but it feels much longer.
In summer, besides enjoying the landscape, we also have water from the dam to cool us off. The next 2 km will always be along the reservoir but not flat. They are even quite demanding, as we constantly go down or up, sometimes with steep inclines. There are several opportunities to go out on the water, and we suggest you take advantage of them.
In this part of the route, we pass through Geira and walk along it for a few hundred meters. This legendary road still preserves parts of the old sidewalk. It’s incredible and one of the reasons we love this trail. Unfortunately, this only happens for a few hundred meters.
Eventually, we have to turn left, moving away from the reservoir and starting to climb until we reach a new road. We continued up the road to the place of Assento. As this part is done on the road, it is not particularly difficult or technical. We cross the village until we reach a beautiful viewpoint, from where you can see the entire area, including the village and the surrounding fields.
From here, we always follow the road until we reach the starting point. About 200 meters from the destination, we also find the xões bridge, with two round arches formed by narrow voussoirs built on solid foundations of well-equipped walls based on the rocky bed and on the banks of Ribeira de Rodas.
Despite the long periods on the road, we really enjoyed this trail. It takes us to beautiful landscapes and forests and gives us the opportunity to walk on the ancient Geira (the Roman road that connected Braga to Astorga in Spain). Although it doesn’t pass by any of Gerês’ best-known waterfalls and wells, it runs along the banks of the Vilarinho das Furnas reservoir, allowing us to cool off on hotter days.
Best time of year to hike the trail
This is a trail that can be done all year round, but it is more interesting and safe in the summer. Although it is well known, it is not the most popular, so even in high season you won’t have crowds. However, care must be taken in all seasons.
In summer, you need to pay attention to the heat. The trail has a lot of shade, as it passes through several well-forested areas, but if the day is very hot and the sun is strong, it can be very difficult to finish it. Bring plenty of water and a hat.
In winter, or at least in the rainy season, be aware that the route has some very steep areas that can become quite dangerous and slippery. Wear appropriate footwear and pay close attention.
The ideal time to walk this trail is at the end of summer, when there are still warm days (but not too hot), and the water in the reservoir is warmer for taking a dip.
Who can do the trail?
With 9 km and moderate difficulty, this trail involves some effort and is best suited for people accustomed to hiking. Being an expert on mountain trails is unnecessary, but it’s good to have some practice. We hiked the trail with older (but fit) adults and had no issues.
If you are used to hiking, this trail is perfect for you. You don’t need to worry too much about directions, as it is well marked, or about having experience on Gerês trails. However, if you don’t usually walk, it might get a little stiff.
We do not recommend the trail for people with limited mobility and flexibility or for young children.
What to take?
The trail isn’t extraordinarily long, so you don’t need to bring anything special. However, due to the steeper areas we mentioned, we advise you to take hiking shoes with non-slip soles – this will make your life a lot easier.
Regarding food and drinks, note that in the first km of the trail, we will pass by several cafes and snack bars before we reach the forest, so you can buy food and drinks if you are not prepared from home.
Therefore, we advise you to bring:
- Plenty of water (about 1l per person, more if it’s summer);
- Snacks;
- Comfortable, non-slip walking shoes;
- Comfortable clothes;
- Raincoat in winter;
- Swimwear, sunglasses, hat, and sunscreen in summer;
- Cameras and cell phones are also available, with many opportunities to take beautiful photos. Cell phones are also to be used as GPS.
- Small backpack to carry all this;
As always, please don’t litter. Bring whatever you take with you.
How to get to the start of the trail?
The beginning of the Trilho da Águia do Sarilhão could hardly be easier to find, as it starts close to the National Park Gate in Campo do Gerês. There, you will find plenty of parking spaces, an informative panel with a map and general information about the trail, and picnic tables.
Getting to Campo do Gerês is relatively simple. It is about 12 km from Rio Caldo/Albufeira da Caniçada, the central area and the most popular entrance to the National Park. From Braga to Campo do Gerês, it is around 45 km, which takes one hour, while from Porto, it is 100 km, which takes an hour and a half.
Where to stay when doing the Água do Sarilhão trail?
As you can see from the distances and travel times mentioned above, this trail can easily be made from most of the northern region. Still, if you want to enjoy the region with more time and visit more places, we recommend spending the night in Gerês.
The accommodations closest to the start of the trail are those in Campo do Gerês, such as the Youth Hostel or Casa da Fonte:
- Casa da Fonte offers accommodations for two people and families, always offering excellent amenities and attractive prices. See more information here.
- Pousada da Juventude do Gerês (Gerês Youth Hostel): This is a great suggestion for those looking for accommodation with excellent value for money. There are options for private double and family rooms, dormitories, and even a 2-bedroom bungalow. See prices here.
Alternatively to Campo do Gerês, you can stay in the village of Gerês, which is much larger and has more alternatives for accommodation, shops and food. There, our suggestions usually go to the Adelaide Hotel and the Hotel Lagoa Azul:
- Hotel Lagoa Azul is a very pleasant accommodation option at an attractive price. It is an excellent option for families and couples. This hotel has the advantage that the rooms are actually studios with kitchenettes, which can save you even more. Book in advance here, as it is very popular.
- Adelaide Hotel is a quality hotel with comfortable rooms and private bathrooms, TV, AC, and Internet. In the summer, there is an outdoor pool, which is always a bonus. The price-quality ratio is usually excellent. See more options here.
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