The Pindelo Walkways in Oliveira de Azeméis, are a recently opened trail that takes us past waterfalls through the countryside.
The boardwalks are about 2 km long and run in a straight line (meaning you have to return the same way). In our case, since we usually avoid retracing our steps, we chose to return via a different path, away from the boardwalks.
Getting there and Starting the Pindelo Boardwalks
Getting to the Pindelo Boardwalks is quite simple. To start with, the starting point is marked on the Google Maps, na Rua das Fontelas, Pindelo. Here, the road is wide enough to park your car and start the walk.
When we did the trail (May 2025), there were no signs on the main road pointing to the walkways, but we believe this small detail have been resolved by now. In any case, it’s easy to see where to start: on a dirt path next to the bridge.
To explore the Pindelo Boardwalks, we recommend wearing appropriate footwear—and you’ll quickly see why. The first few meters are along a dirt ramp that, if you’re not careful, can easily cause someone to slip.
From here, we head down from the main road to the river and immediately see the first boardwalks. The first few meters of the boardwalks consist of stairs, which then continue on flat ground for quite a while.
What we found most interesting about these boardwalks is that the trail is designed so that we alternate between boardwalks and forest trails. That said, after a few meters, the boardwalks end and we find ourselves deep in the forest.
We noticed that there were no signs here, but, once again, we believe it’s just a matter of time, since they’re still new. At the fork, we turned left and began the climb.
The boardwalks reappear later on, always following the river. And so the trail continues: sometimes along boardwalks, sometimes along forest paths. Along the way, you’ll come across several waterfalls and even the ruins of ancient buildings.
The most impressive part of the Pindelo Boardwalks is the arrival at the wonderful Outeiro Waterfall. Continuing to the left of the waterfall, we re-enter a forest trail, and a little further on, a set of stairs appears, marking the end of the main boardwalks.
Highway overpasses will appear above you, marking what seems like a return to civilization. This is where you’ll need to make a decision: take the detour to Pedra Má Waterfall or start heading back.
Detour to Pedra Má Waterfall
In our case, we decided to take a quick detour to the Pedra Má Waterfall. To do so, we followed the paved path straight ahead, climbing steadily uphill.
As you go up the paved road, it curves to the left. Follow the road until you see a dirt path on the left. At the entrance to this path, there is a sign indicating a rock climbing area—that’s the way you should go.
The path continues until you come to a fork in the road, next to an abandoned building—take the left fork again, staying close to the river.
Nearer to the Pedra Má Waterfall, there are some recommendations and safety warnings, as this is a rock-climbing area. Next to the waterfall itself, there are more walkways that lead you to the top of the waterfall.
The Return
It's time to head back. Here, you can choose to take the trail along the boardwalks again or follow a different path.
The choice between the various possible routes is made under the highway bridges, near the detour to the waterfall. On Wikiloc you’ll find a few options, the best-known of which is this one. In our case, we opted for one with a slight variation (this one).
To begin our return trip, we walked from the Pedra Má Waterfall to the end of the boardwalks. Upon reaching the paths under the bridges again, we crossed the small bridge over the river and immediately turned left. From there, it’s a short uphill walk of a few meters until we reached a water channel that, unfortunately, had very little water.
In our case, we ended up not being able to complete the trail exactly as planned, since a section of the water channel was blocked. When we reached that section, we turned onto farm roads and continued along them until we were able to get back on the intended trail.
The last part of the route went through the village of Outeiro.
And so we finished our walk, which totaled about 4.5 km. Although it has a few uphill sections, the trail is easy to walk and very scenic. We recommend taking the boardwalks and the detour to Pedra Má Waterfall—it’s absolutely worth it. As for the return trip, it really comes down to personal preference whether to retrace your steps or not, but we think the most scenic option is to head back via the boardwalks.
