© Vasco Neves
MTB TRAILS
Mountain bikers are given the choice of four trails with different difficulty levels that allow them to discover the various environments and landscapes in the municipality of Serpa. The trails offer several connections and combinations and cross all of the municipality’s parishes, covering the entire municipality.
TRAIL P1
This is the easiest trail, accessible to cyclists of all ages. It explores the trails to the west of the city, where farmlands rise from the great plains. Cycling along dirt roads, the beginning of the route offers a view of the Guadiana River at the bottom of the valley. The return trip is made with the beautiful city of Serpa on the background.
MAIN INFORMATION
DISTANCE 12,3km
ACCUMULATED UPHILL ELEVATION 135m
TIME 45m a 1h30
DIFFICULTY
LEVEL Easy
© CMS
TRAIL P2
Heading towards the Guadiana, this moderate difficulty trail crosses the agricultural fields to descend to the bottom of the valley, to the Azenha da Ordem watermill. From here it returns to the plains, towards the São Brás chapel and then to Santa Iria, where it merges with trails 3 and 4 and starts the return trip to the city of Serpa.
MAIN INFORMATION
DISTANCE 31,5km
ACCUMULATED UPHILL ELEVATION 510m
TIME 2h a 2h30
DIFFICULTY
LEVEL Moderate
© Vasco Neves
TRAIL P3
A difficult route, more because of its length than as a result of the characteristics of the terrain, this trail leads to the discovery of the north and eastern plains of this territory. It begins by heading north parallel to the Guadiana River and turns east along the Enxoé River until it separates from trail 4 to head towards A do Pinto, after which it rejoins the black trail. From there it heads for Serpa, past the village of Santa Iria, and merges with trail 2.
MAIN INFORMATION
DISTANCE 66km
ACCUMULATED UPHILL ELEVATION 1100m
TIME 3h30 a 4h30
DIFFICULTY
LEVEL Difficult
© Vasco Neves
TRAIL P4
Following along the red route up to the Enxoé river, this is a very long and difficult trail that travels the whole width of the municipality, reaching the Malpique, Adiça and Ficalho mountain ranges. It mostly runs along agricultural dirt roads and, in the sections near the mountains, the technical difficulty increases with less "rolling" and more demanding terrains.
This route can be shortened by using the connection shown on the map and available for GPS, which skips the most demanding sections and shortens the trail significantly.
MAIN INFORMATION
DISTANCE 130km
ACCUMULATED UPHILL ELEVATION 2000m
TIME 6h a 7h30
DIFFICULTY
LEVEL Very Difficult
© CMS
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
EASY
Rolling surface, hard packed or asphalted and wide. Mostly flat (gradients below 10%, in average below 5%, and free from obstacles).
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
MODERATE
With small obstacles (height <0.2m) and few technical sections and trails (gradients below 15%, on average below 10%, firm or stable surface).
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
DIFFICULT
With various obstacles, drops (height <0.5m), technical sections and challenging climbs (maximum gradient > 15%, on average below 15%, very variable surfaces). Requires a good command of mountain bike techniques and quality bicycles.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
VERY DIFFICULT
Quite technical, with large obstacles (height > 0.5m) that cannot be avoided and steep climbs (maximum gradient >20%, unpredictable surface). For experienced and highly prepared mountain bikers only, with quality bicycles.