Glacier Valley of Covão Grande – Shore of Lagoa Comprida
Duration: 5h30min Distance: 17km.
There are two possibilities that we leave to the visitor: walk it entirely on the trail and enjoy the full magnitude of the path or make the journey by car along the road that leads to Lagoa Comprida, making it possible to walk through the valley itself.
Pedestrian path: starting at Torre on the trail (marked on the map) to the north, cross the road towards Covão Grande and enter the Planalto Glaciário. Follow to the left of Cântaro Gordo, go through the Salgadeiras and continue on the trail that leads to the summit. We are 1858 meters.
The specifically glacier landscape is easy to perceive, since the rocks were almost completely devoid of the vegetal cover that covered them. From the summit, go down the trail on the left that takes us to the Ponds. From here, turn left again, this time on a small macadam road. Continue through a hundred erratic blocks deposited systematically on the rocky surfaces, following the entire length of this margin of Lagoa Comprida. Pass by the Sales Center, cross the road again and go down to Covão da Areia, entering the Glacier Valley itself, where the polished rocks of the abrupt slopes enchant by their magnitude. The trail that goes down to Ribeira da Nave practically disappears, so more attention is needed here. Advance through the pastures at Nave Travessa, from where a spectacular glacial language came from that fed the valley. Continue walking through Covão do Morgado and following the stream until Vale da Caniça where the glacier ended. Follow the trail across the stream to the other bank and arrive at Sumo da Caniça where there is an underground stream as a result of the fact that the bed is crammed with granite blocks that have rolled from the slopes. Go down the narrow and difficult path, over a bridge over the canal and turn left. Pass through Buraco da Moura and walk over the Jugais bridge, entering a wide and well maintained path that takes us to the village of Lapa dos Dinheiros where the route comes to an end.
Car Route: (To Lagoa Comprida, where the route is completed by walking) Duration: 3h20min Distance: 18km (11 by road and 7 by footpath).
Exit the Tower along the road, turning left, towards Seia. Observe the Loriga Glacier Valley and head towards Lagoa Comprida. From there it is inevitable to park the car next to the Sales Center. Get ready for the walk … The trail that goes down to Ribeira da Nave, enters between the abrupt slopes of polished rocks and striated by the ice. Greater attention is needed at this location, as the trail almost disappears through the vegetation. On the left, there is a glacial tongue that fed the valley, it is the Nave Travessa with the typical herds and shepherds of the region. Following the river, go through Covão do Morgado and continue walking. Cross the stream to the right side, where Sumo da Caniça is located and pass through Buraco da Moura, following to the left of the junction of the trails. Walk to Vila da Lapa dos Dinheiros where the glacier ended and get ready for the inevitable return.
Be certain that the beautiful scenery will make up for the difficulty of the journey!
