The Geosites Route of Arouca Geopark is divided into three itineraries.

Route A «Freita: the enchanted mountain»
The name of the route almost says it all! However, there is nothing quite like going and discovering. This route crosses one of the most beautiful areas of this territory. In the Freita Mountain’s plateau, located at more than 1000 m altitude, you’ll be able to observe a wide landscape, which covers a substantial part of the north and center of the country. This route will guide you in a trip of almost 22 km by motor vehicle and 3.5 km by foot. Along the “Enchanted Mountain”, you can visit 11 geosites, nine of them situated in the Freita Mountain’s plateau. The whole route is integrated in the natural area classified as Natura 2000 network (Freita and Arada Mountains), and you’ll certainly find animal and vegetable species that will draw your attention. This is also a good opportunity to find and visit proofs of the human action that range from the prehistory, the Bronze Age and the infrastructures of today. At the end, do not hesitate to visit the traditional villages surrounding these mountains. But the experience is worth more than a thousand words. You’ll certainly be very well received by the local inhabitants. Geosites of interest

• G1: Detrelo da Malhada Panoramic
• G3: S. Pedro Velho
• G6: Mizarela waterfall
• G5: Mizarela lithological contact
• G4: Caima river potholes
• G7: Birthing stones
• G8: Folds of Castanheira
• G10: Costa da Castanheira viewpoint
• G11: Junqueiro maize bread rocks
• G13 e G14: Onion Rocks

Route B «Through the mines and unknown meanders of Paiva»
This route is the longest of the suggested for the Route of Geosites of the Arouca Geopark, allowing you to access places of these mountains and valleys where once there was mining exploration. This trail develops in the southeast region and in one of the least population density areas of the Arouca Geopark territory, where there still are evidences of the tungsten exploration during the World War II, or of the gold exploration by the Romans in this region. Geosites of interest:

• G.16 – Rio de Frades mines
• G.17 – Mourinha ichnofossils
• G.18 – Paiva library
• G.19 – ‘Conheiros’ of Janarde
• G.20 – Meanders do Paiva
• G.22 – Regoufe mines
• G.23 – Hell Portal and Claw
• G.24 – Sra. da Mó panoramic

Route C «Paiva: the amazing valley»
This route has the Paiva river as background that contemplates its visitors with amazing discoveries. Actually, the Paiva river plays an important role in the construction of the Arouca Geopark landscape, contributing for its change through erosive processes, as well as processes of transportation and deposition of sediments in its river basin. Along these water courses, there were many villages with relative historic, economic and cultural relevance. There are numerous stories and legends that were often passed through generations, and that constitute a strong cultural identity element of the inhabitants of this region. This route is defined in the northeast region of the Arouca Geopark and extends throughout 27 km, approximate, of which 11 have to be done by foot. It includes a visit to 12 geosites:

• G25: Geological Interpretative Center of Canelas
• G26: Evidences of the late Ordovician glaciation
• G27: Lowermost Silurian graptolites
• G28: Carbonic conglomerate
• G29: Gralheira d’Água quartzite ridge
• G37: Ichnofossils of Cabanas Longas
• G38: Mira Paiva site
• G36: Garganta do Paiva
• G35: Aguieiras waterfall
• G30: Vau site
• G31: Gola do Salto site
• G32: Espiunca Fault