Walk Spain’s steep and spectacular footpath

By Karla Cripps, CNN
Updated 3:00 PM EDT, Fri March 13, 2015
<strong>Peak Walk (Switzerland):</strong> The world's first pedestrian suspension bridge to connect two mountain peaks opened on Glacier 3000 in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland in October 2014. The 107-meter (351 feet) bridge connects View Point peak with Scex Rouge peak. Click through the gallery for more thrilling footbridges:
Peak Walk (Switzerland) —
Peak Walk (Switzerland): The world's first pedestrian suspension bridge to connect two mountain peaks opened on Glacier 3000 in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland in October 2014. The 107-meter (351 feet) bridge connects View Point peak with Scex Rouge peak. Click through the gallery for more thrilling footbridges:
Courtesy Peak Walk
<strong>SkyBridge (Sochi, Russia):</strong> If this footbridge isn't thrilling enough, there's a 700-meter zip wire at the SkyBridge complex too. You'll find this area in southern Russia near the Black Sea.
SkyBridge (Sochi, Russia) —
SkyBridge (Sochi, Russia): If this footbridge isn't thrilling enough, there's a 700-meter zip wire at the SkyBridge complex too. You'll find this area in southern Russia near the Black Sea.
Courtesy AJ Hackett
<strong>Aiguille du Midi Bridge (France): </strong> Aiguille du Midi Bridge is located 3,842 meters above sea level. To get to it, you're going to have to ride a vertical ascent cable car.
Aiguille du Midi Bridge (France) —
Aiguille du Midi Bridge (France): Aiguille du Midi Bridge is located 3,842 meters above sea level. To get to it, you're going to have to ride a vertical ascent cable car.
Courtesy Compagnie du Mont-Blanc
<strong>Tigbao Hanging Bridge (Philippines):</strong> This bridge in Bohol, Philippines, is actually made of metal, but a bamboo top layer was added to give it an authentic look.
Tigbao Hanging Bridge (Philippines) —
Tigbao Hanging Bridge (Philippines): This bridge in Bohol, Philippines, is actually made of metal, but a bamboo top layer was added to give it an authentic look.
Courtesy Dan Brian
<strong>Taman Negara Bridge (Malaysia):</strong> This suspension bridge in the Taman Negara National Park stretches 530 meters across the tops of the trees.
Taman Negara Bridge (Malaysia) —
Taman Negara Bridge (Malaysia): This suspension bridge in the Taman Negara National Park stretches 530 meters across the tops of the trees.
Courtesy Tim Kelf
<strong>Capilano Suspension Bridge (Vancouver):</strong> One of Vancouver's most popular attractions,the bridge welcomes 700,000-plus visitors a year. It hangs 70 meters above the Capilano River.
Capilano Suspension Bridge (Vancouver) —
Capilano Suspension Bridge (Vancouver): One of Vancouver's most popular attractions,the bridge welcomes 700,000-plus visitors a year. It hangs 70 meters above the Capilano River.
Courtesy British Columbia Tourism
<strong>Hanging Bridge of Ghasa (Nepal): </strong>The bridge was built to lighten congestion caused by animal herds heading up and down local roads.
Hanging Bridge of Ghasa (Nepal) —
Hanging Bridge of Ghasa (Nepal): The bridge was built to lighten congestion caused by animal herds heading up and down local roads.
Courtesy Anita Niza
<strong>Trift Bridge (Gadmen, Switzerland):</strong> The mountaineering hut at the top of Tift Glacier was once reachable by foot. When the glacier started to shrink, the 170-meter-long Tift Bridge in Gadmen, Switzerland, became the only way to access the hut.
Trift Bridge (Gadmen, Switzerland) —
Trift Bridge (Gadmen, Switzerland): The mountaineering hut at the top of Tift Glacier was once reachable by foot. When the glacier started to shrink, the 170-meter-long Tift Bridge in Gadmen, Switzerland, became the only way to access the hut.
Courtesy Swiss Tourism
<strong>Caminito del Rey (Malaga, Spain):</strong> The "King's Little Path" features a boardwalk that's built into the side of a cliff face and hangs 100 meters above the Guadalhorce River near the village of El Chorro, near Malaga.
Caminito del Rey (Malaga, Spain) —
Caminito del Rey (Malaga, Spain): The "King's Little Path" features a boardwalk that's built into the side of a cliff face and hangs 100 meters above the Guadalhorce River near the village of El Chorro, near Malaga.
Courtesy Spain Tourism
<strong>The Marienbrucke (Germany):</strong> Marienbrucke spans the Pollat Gorge, close to Bavaria's famed Neuschwanstein Castle.
The Marienbrucke (Bavaria, Germany) —
The Marienbrucke (Germany): Marienbrucke spans the Pollat Gorge, close to Bavaria's famed Neuschwanstein Castle.
Courtesy Bernd Krueger
<strong>Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (Northern Ireland):</strong> This rope bridge was built so fishermen could cross the 30-meter-deep gorge to check their nets. It's become one of Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attractions.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (Northern Ireland) —
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (Northern Ireland): This rope bridge was built so fishermen could cross the 30-meter-deep gorge to check their nets. It's become one of Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attractions.
Courtesy Ann Cameron
<strong>Kokonoe "Yume" Bridge (Japan):</strong> This bridge in Oita, Japan, offers views of Shindonotaki falls. It's 390 meters long and once held the title of world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge.
Kokonoe "Yume" Bridge (Japan) —
Kokonoe "Yume" Bridge (Japan): This bridge in Oita, Japan, offers views of Shindonotaki falls. It's 390 meters long and once held the title of world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge.
Courtesy Captain Future
<strong>Highline179 (Reutte, Austria):</strong> Highline179 connects the Ehrenberg Castle ruins to Fort Claudia in Ruette, Austria. It's 403 meters long and 110 meters high.
Highline179 (Reutte, Austria) —
Highline179 (Reutte, Austria): Highline179 connects the Ehrenberg Castle ruins to Fort Claudia in Ruette, Austria. It's 403 meters long and 110 meters high.
Courtesy Highline179
Most amazing footbridges around the globe

Story highlights

Spain's '"most dangerous path" due to reopen this month after extensive reconstruction efforts

Originally built in the 1900s, the trail's boardwalks deteriorated over time, forcing the local government to close it

CNN  — 

Closed for over a decade, a trail that’s been described as “the world’s most dangerous path” is no longer off limits to the public thanks to a massive reconstruction project.

Reopened on March 28, 2017, stunning Caminito del Rey in Spain features a cliff face boardwalk that hangs 100 meters above the Guadalhorce River.

The trail, which begins in the village of El Chorro in southern Malaga province, has been around since the early 1900s, originally built to provide access to two waterfalls for hydroelectric workers.

Over the years, the boardwalk deteriorated and, following a string of fatal accidents in 1999 and 2000, the government demolished the access points to the walkway.

According to the Spanish daily El Pais, the provincial government allocated 5.5 million euros ($5.8 million) to the project.

The entire route is 7.7 kilometers long, with boardwalks covering 2.9 kilometers of the trail. The most famous section includes the Balconcillo de los Gaitanes bridge, which spans the Gaitanes Gorge.

10 of the best long-distance trails for hikers around the world

Tourism officials say it takes between four and five hours to walk the entire route, which includes some steep slopes.

Visiting hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. from November 1 to March 31.

Those who want to visit need to book a spot on the official website, Caminitodelrey.info.

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