PR2 PNF GDM - Caminhos do Rio Mau

The trail starts at the Rio Mau Leisure Park, a central location for cultural activities in the parish, crossing the bridge over the Mau River, which gives the parish its name.

Along the route, several points of interest can be found, including the Estivada shrines, built in the 1950s as places of recollection for those who travelled these paths to work in the mountains.

The trail continues towards the Mau River, passing by the Poço Negro viewpoint, a natural waterfall considered one of the reference locations in the parish. The descent to the riverbed follows a path associated with former mining activity in the region, where some ruins of this activity are still visible.

Following the Mau River and the Cadeados stream, the route leads to two waterfalls, first the smaller one and then the larger one. Further ahead, the trail offers panoramic views over the Douro River, the Serra da Boneca, and the village of Rio Mau, extending towards the São Domingos mountain range, the parish of Pedorido and the mouth of the Arda River.

At the mouth of the Mau River, the meeting point with the Douro River created a lagoon with conditions for activities such as walking, fishing and birdwatching.

Points of interest

• Rio Mau Leisure Park
• Bridge over the Mau River
• Estivada Shrines
• Poço Negro Viewpoint
• Mau River Waterfalls
• Ruins of the former mining activity
• Mouth of the Mau River

Available Tracks

Two GPS tracks are available, corresponding to different versions of the route.

• Track recorded on the ground (8.5 km)
  Source: Richiebobs (recorded in August 2026)
  This track corresponds to the route recorded on the ground by the hiker.
• Original track (7.6 km)
  Source: Penafiel City Council

Start / End: Parque de Lazer de Rio Mau. Recommended season: spring, summer and autumn. Altitude: 48 m – 226 m. Accumulated elevation gain: 254 m. Recommended direction: counterclockwise.