Relheiras de São Brás

A short circular route that runs mostly through the forested area of Biscoito das Fontinhas, a protected zone dedicated to habitat and species management. It begins near the São Brás leisure area and crosses the respective picnic park until reaching the Native Species Forest Nursery, a space with various functions that combines the production of endemic plants with work to raise local awareness about the conservation of natural genetic resources.

From here, the trail follows a corridor where endemic flora species are properly marked, then enters the forest patch that makes up most of the route. You walk among old eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) stands, which serve as refuge for several endemic invertebrates of the Açores and as a nesting site for the Azores wood pigeon (Columba palumbus azorica).

At the entrance to the protected forest area, a monument to the ox-cart recalls the importance this means of transport once had. This same use is marked in the wheel ruts that give the trail its name: grooves carved into the rock by the repeated passage of carts over many years, some deeper and wider than others. Along the way there are other points of historical and cultural interest, such as the Fonte do Cão and a basalt sculpture representing the island Terceira.

As for the landscapes, the route opens up views to the geosites of Pico Alto and Serra do Cume and, roughly halfway through the walk, passes by the Pulho do Salto waterfall, near Ribeira dos Pães, which has a torrential regime. Since much of the trail runs through a protected area of the Terceira Natural Park, it is up to each person to care for its biodiversity and walk it with respect.