The new suspension bridge

Where is the new suspension bridge on the Caminito del Rey?

In the final stretch of the route, just before the area above the railway iron bridge and the El Chorro tunnel, near the south exit.

The walk runs one way, from the north access in Ardales to the south exit at El Chorro. The bridge is close to the end of that line. Canal Sur places it just before the zone above the iron railway bridge and the El Chorro tunnel, the last landmarks before you hand back your helmet. Around it, the builders laid about 300 metres of new path, plus cameras, a control booth and new planting.

The reason for the new line is safety. A geological study by the universities of Granada and Jaén recommended an alternative route for the end of the trail, according to the Diputación figures reported at the opening. El Español's report on the works describes rock full of joints, eight metre drill holes and extra piles where a landslide zone was found on the slope. Helicopters and cargo zip lines were used to get the parts in.

If you have never walked the route, keep the proportions in mind: most of the 7.7 km is access path, and only 2.9 km is boardwalk. The bridge is a short, high moment near the end, not a new section of gorge.

How long and how high is the new bridge?

110 metres long, up to 50 metres above the ground, with a walkway 1.2 metres wide and room for a maximum of 30 people at once.

The numbers come from the Diputación and were repeated across the Spanish coverage of the opening on 9 June 2026. The deck is a metal grating, and the railings are steel cable with mesh. The bridge alone weighs about 17 tonnes; the whole structure about 38.

Fifty metres sounds like a lot, and it is. It is still lower than the best-known stretch of the old route: the official FAQ puts the hanging footbridge on the original line at 105 metres high. What is new is the length. A 110 metre span gives you a long time out in the open, with the gorge on both sides and nothing but the cables beside you.

Do you have to cross the new bridge?

No. It is an alternative final stretch. Walkers who prefer it can still take the traditional path down to the exit.

This is the part most English write-ups skip. El Debate quotes it plainly: those who wish can keep using the traditional path ("quienes lo deseen podrán seguir utilizando el sendero tradicional"). The same report adds, with some honesty, that the bridge is "no es para vertiginosos": not for people with vertigo.

The trade-off is simple. The bridge route skips almost a kilometre of descent over steeper ground. The old route keeps you on rock and path, closer to the walls. If heights are your worry, the old way out is the calmer one, and our guide on how scary the Caminito feels covers the rest of the route section by section.

One small tip: decide before you reach the fork. Groups bunch up near the end, and turning back on a 1.2 metre walkway with 29 people behind you is no fun.

Do you need a different ticket for the bridge?

No source we found mentions a separate ticket or supplement. The bridge is part of the normal route, and the ticket blocks sold since it opened describe it as a new alternative itinerary.

When the winter block went on sale, the Diputación-sourced announcement listed the same two ticket types as before, general entry and the official guided visit, and mentioned the bridge only as a new alternative route that walkers can choose. We found no bridge ticket and no separate time slot for it.

Tours sell the same entry. Among the listings we follow, La Garganta's guided tour with shuttle from El Chorro names the new 110 metre bridge in its route description, and its inclusions mention the entrance to the suspension bridges. For other tours the listing does not say which final stretch the guide uses, so ask the operator if it matters to you. The plain entry ticket lets you choose for yourself on the day.

Meet by El Chorro station, ride the included shuttle to the north gate, then walk the gorge back to where you started, new bridge included.

★ 4.7 · 4 to 7 hours

Book this Tour details

Does the bridge close when it is windy?

The official site says access is closed when strong wind blows along the hanging bridge in the exit section towards Álora. Closures are announced by email, SMS, Telegram and social media.

Wind is the main weather risk on this side of the gorge. The official FAQ says access is closed when the wind carries a lot of speed along the hanging bridge in the exit section through Álora. With strong wind forecast, the organisation contacts ticket holders by email, SMS, Telegram and social media. The FAQ does not say whether the new bridge has its own wind limit, separate from the rest of the route.

If the site closes for weather, you can exchange your ticket for another date, subject to availability, in your personal area on the official platform. Refunds and voluntary changes are not allowed. Tours handle this differently: the day trip from Málaga listing, for example, offers a refund or a date change if the trail closes. Check the official Telegram channel the evening before, and again in the morning.

Is the new bridge worth planning your visit around?

It is a good reason to go, not a reason to change your plans. The rest of the Caminito is the same as before, and the old exit is still there.

If you have walked the Caminito before, the bridge is a fair excuse to come back: a long, open crossing and a gentler end to the day. If you have not, it is one more good minute on a route that already has the Gaitanejo gorge, the Valle del Hoyo and the cliffs of the Gaitanes. Book the day that suits you, not the bridge.

What has not changed is the hard part: getting a ticket. Winter and spring dates still go fast, and our post on the winter ticket block explains how the releases work. Coming without a car? Read how to get to the Caminito before you pick a tour.

Frequently asked questions