The "King's Road" in Spain is a place that adventurers long for.
Reminiscing about my last trip to Andalusia, Spain, I have a deep impression of the "Caminito del Rey" or "King's Pathway". This canyon cliff is so steep that every step is heart-stopping, earning it the nickname "Death Pathway". Nevertheless, the King's Pathway attracts countless tourists every day who come to hike and explore. Even though people die here every year, it cannot stop the footsteps of those who seek outdoor adventure and excitement.
Located above the Guadalhorce River in Malaga, Andalusia, southern Spain, the King's Pathway is known as one of the "most dangerous hiking trails in the world". The pathway is 7.7 kilometers long and was built in 1901 as a tourist attraction, with a history of over a hundred years.
The King's Road boardwalk, built along the Guadalhorce River Valley, has some sections hanging over cliffs 100 meters above the valley floor, causing many people with acrophobia to hesitate. The canyon is 300 meters deep and was reportedly built under the supervision of the Spanish king to transport workers and materials to build a dam upstream.
After the construction of the King's Road plank road, it also became a transportation artery for local people to cross the mountains. In 1921, the then King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, visited here, and the plank road was named "King's Road" as a result.
Built along the mountain and carved from stone, the King's Road plank path is about 1 meter wide at its widest point and only half a meter at its narrowest. On one side is a cliff, and on the other side is a gorge over a hundred meters deep. The trail is steep and treacherous, and a slight misstep could lead to a fall into the abyss. Despite the fact that it has long been in disrepair and the plank path is badly damaged, there are still accidents where tourists fall to their deaths. Nevertheless, every year it still attracts many adventurers and tourists to experience the "life-and-death hike".
Since 2000, the Spanish government has invested 4.5 million euros to repair and reinforce the boardwalk, which took 14 years to complete. The reinforced boardwalk has a high safety factor and requires every visitor to wear a safety helmet before visiting. It is said that the King's Road boardwalk has three to four hundred thousand visitors every year. For safety reasons, the local authorities only allow 1,100 people to visit every day, and it is always "full" every day. Therefore, people who want to go need to make an appointment in advance, and those who want to visit must make an appointment at least two months in advance. If you queue up to buy tickets on site, the number of temporary visit quotas issued daily is limited, and many tourists leave disappointed because they cannot buy tickets.
Although I am a little afraid of heights, I still persisted in completing the entire journey. Standing on the plank road and looking down, it made my heart tremble and my legs weak. However, walking here and strolling on the cliffs surrounded by mountains, you can observe the beautiful canyon scenery from multiple angles up close. The stunning scenery before your eyes is breathtaking.