Canyon in Madeira
Ribeira do Lajeado
Extreme · v5a4 II
Rappels: 12 · Max waterfall: 130 m · Min rope: 75 m
Lajeado is really two canyons in one: an upper "touristic"/commercial section that is pure jumps and stream walking with a 20 m rappel, followed by the Risco waterfalls, an 80 to 90 m drop and a 120 to 130 m drop, a super airy descent with hanging belays and a spectacular last waterfall. It is a really beautiful canyon. Pools are generally deep enough for jumps up to about 13 m, but always check with goggles: rocks, flat edges and trees turn up in the pools, and depth cannot be judged from above.
Current status
As of December 2025With low flow at the end of November 2025 all the big verticals were OK; the exit of the Risco waterfall has suffered a large landslide, which is passable but very dangerous.
Season and flow
The water is cold (it could well be called "Frio II"). Flow is typically low in autumn and early winter (October 2020, October 2021, January 2023, November 2025) and good in spring (March and May 2023). In June 2017 works on the Levada da Urze/Alecrim sent all the water into the canyon with strong flow, notably at R3. After the dam the pools were brown and unjumpable in October 2020. In May 2023 sudden rain raised the flow by about 50% mid-descent on the 120 m drop and boulders fell into the pool.
Anchors and re-equipment
In May 2015 the R4 hangers were replaced, with rings instead of maillons (keep the rope out of the crack). In August 2024 R1 to R6 were re-equipped with stainless chemical anchors. R9 (last pitch of the first Risco drop) had a loose bolt in May 2023 (bring a 17 mm wrench); in July 2025 the R9 anchors were loose again and were tightened, but the left one is stripped. All other anchors were good in 2025. Rope changes on the big drops are hard with no footholds: bring a foot loop.
Hazards
Landslides: the R4 headwall (November 2019); a huge slide 100 m after R3 (May 2022); fresh rockfall at R3 (April/May 2023) with more loose blocks above; rockfall risk from R8 to R9 and R11 to R12 (July 2025); and a large landslide at the exit of the Risco waterfall, passable but very dangerous (November 2025). Trees: one in the R2 pool (May 2022), later in the R5 pool (November 2022), gone by January 2023; a moving fallen tree 15 to 20 m below R11 (January 2023); large fallen heather between R11 and R12 (May 2020).
Access and exit
Access takes 15 to 20 min via the old road and levada; alternatively park at Rabaçal and walk 3.5 km along the Levada do Alecrim. In October 2020 parking #3 and the tunnel road were closed for works. Exit before the big drops: a poorly visible path on the left about 25 m before the drop, up to the levada, then about 40 min back. The emergency exits were all cleared in March 2023; there is an unmarked one on the right bank near the "shelter" before R4. On the 130 m drop it is possible to bail after about 15 m of rappel from R12 (or with 60 m from R11) onto the old Levada do Risco, climbing a fence, which avoids ropes over 60 m. Full descent return: old dam 50 m after the last fall, river right, to the 25 Fontes bridge; one-car option via the path near 25 Fontes back to Pico Fernandes in under 1h.
Official notes
If the two big final waterfalls are avoided the canyon is only vertical grade 2. There are several escape routes along the whole descent, and the shape of the stream allows descents with some flow (winter).
Anchors, flow and access change with every storm and every winter. Treat the current status as a snapshot and check the latest conditions before any descent.
Technical data
Official technical sheet
Detailed data, history and technical notes are maintained by Clube Aventura da Madeira on the Canyons da Madeira website.
Nearby and similar canyons
Other sections of the same stream, canyons in the same area, and canyons of a similar grade.