The best running trails around Vinhó

Covão dos Conchos is an artificial lagoon located in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, Portugal, near the mountain village of Sabugueiro. Covão dos Conchos became famous for its bell-mouth spillway[1]. The spillway was built in 1955 to allow water to be transferred from the Ribeira das Naves River to Lagoa Comprida. It is part of the Serra da Estrela Hydroelectric System. This science fiction-style spillway became famous when photographs of the hole went viral on social media in 2016. Over the past 60 years, the growth of vegetation at the funnel's mouth has created extraordinary biodiversity and increased its ethereal allure. It is 4.6 meters high and 48 meters in circumference. The tunnel that collects the water is 1,519 meters long.

Located within the Planalto Superior biogenetic reserve, the Rossim Valley is a unique location of great scientific, environmental, and scenic value that deserves to be protected and enhanced. Although it is an artificial lake, over time, conditions have been created that have transformed this area into an excellent leisure and recreation area that attracts countless tourists. The Vale do Rossim recreation center is located at an average altitude of 1,437 meters. Before the dam was built, it was one of the best high-altitude pastures in the municipality of Gouveia. The area has almost always been frequented by transhumance herds, flocks that gathered here from São João to the Sr. do Calvário festivities in August.

Beautiful photos of special places. Thanks for sharing.🙏

Sabugueiro, the village vying for the title of highest in Portugal, is also one of the most authentic ambassadors of mountain life. Among granite houses and comforting flavors (cheese, sausages, roast kid, and honey), you can find the warmth of blankets and burel coats and the company of the faithful Serra da Estrela mountain dogs. Surrounding waterfalls, streams, and lakes remind you that here, nature is as generous as the table.

At over 1,400 meters above sea level, the Rossim Valley Reservoir is a haven of granite, pine trees, and crystal-clear waters in the heart of the Serra da Estrela Mountains. It's the perfect setting for strolls, summer swims, and admiring nature in all its splendor, one of Portugal's highest jewels.

A beautiful nature trail, about 9 km round trip to Covão dos Conchos. Unfortunately, on August 15th, the water couldn't reach the hole and thus reveal the waterfalls. It's a reservoir, part of the Serra da Estrela hydroelectric system. A funnel-shaped drainage structure that allows water to flow from this body of water to Lagoa Comprida. The spillway was built in 1955 to divert water from Ribeira das Naves to Lagoa Comprida. Over the past 60 years, moss and foliage have grown over the mouth of the funnel, creating a captivating spectacle. It is 4.6 meters high and 4.8 meters in circumference. The tunnel that collects the water is 1,519 meters long. It's a stunning place to visit, not only for the combination of human intervention and nature, but also for the surrounding landscape.

Located at an altitude of approximately 1,600 meters, Lagoa Comprida is the largest water reservoir in the Serra da Estrela, intended for hydroelectric generation. This natural lake lies in a wide depression of glacial origin, approximately one kilometer long, which fed the Covão Grande glacier. Numerous glacial scars are visible along its banks, making this lake one of the most interesting geomorphological sites in the Serra da Estrela. Construction on this lake began in 1911, and by 1914, it was already six meters high. Later, in 1965, it underwent heightening work that increased its height to 28 meters, currently boasting a storage capacity of approximately 14 cubic hectometers, flooding an area of approximately 80 hectares. Small streams of water flow into this lagoon, as well as water retained in the Covões dos Conchos and Covões do Meio and carried to this lagoon through underground tunnels.

Characterized by a serene and rural atmosphere, Freixo da Serra offers a taste of traditional Portuguese mountain life. Its stone houses, narrow streets and surrounding environment of cultivated fields and forests make it an ideal place for those seeking peace and contact with nature. Its strategic location allows easy access to some of the trails and points of interest of Serra da Estrela, while maintaining the tranquility of a less touristy settlement.