The King’s Path, the Most Dangerous Trail in the World

A “forbidden” dream for many trekking and high-adrenaline hike lovers, the Caminito del Rey is still considered the most dangerous trail in the world.

Also known as the “King’s Path,” this spectacular passage is located in Spain near Malaga, specifically close to Álora.

The trail stretches along a three-kilometer path built along the walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes in El Chorro.

Its danger and at the same time its spectacle lie in the fact that the walkways are only a meter wide and remain suspended in some sections up to 100 meters high.

In certain areas of the Caminito del Rey, the rock walls are almost completely vertical, and the walkways float in the air, supported above the waters of the river below.

The path was closed for a long time following two fatal accidents more than ten years ago; however, the local Malaga authorities recently decided to renovate the Caminito del Rey to “return it” to the bravest hikers, and it was made accessible again in 2015.

The “Caminito del Rey” is three km long and runs along a concrete platform just one meter wide suspended up to 100 m above the river below.

The path is located on the wall of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes canyon at El Chorro and runs alongside a natural gorge carved by the Guadalhorce river, near the beautiful city of Malaga, in Spain, and it has a unique feature: it is almost suspended in mid-air.

In 2000 this incredible trail was officially closed after a series of accidents led to the death of several hikers, but despite this, free climbers continued to tackle the route, fearless and indifferent to the danger. The history takes us back 114 years, precisely to 1901, when the works began for the construction of the El Chorro power plant.

Used as a pedestrian passage by the power plant workers who transported materials, monitored, and maintained the canal between Salto del Chorro and Salto del Gaitanejo, “Los Balcones,” as the daring path was called at the time, gradually became more famous than the power plant itself.

In 1921, after King Alfonso XIII visited the facilities crossing “Los Balcones,” the name of the trail was changed to its current one in his honor.

Thrills and vertigo are the “menu” of a path that should be walked without hesitation, with courage and a desire to experience new sensations, like feeling suspended in mid-air. The path is not recommended for those who suffer from acrophobia but is now open to the public again.