The trail was nicknamed 'The King's Little Path' after King Alfonso XIII crossed the original service walkway in 1921 to inaugurate the dam.
The original walkway was built by workers using ropes and harnesses, often referred to as the 'sebwiller' method, to transport materials for the hydroelectric project.
The gorge walls reach heights of up to 400 meters in some segments of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes.
The site remained closed for over a decade following fatal accidents in 1999 and 2000, which led to the removal of the path's initial sections.
The current structure is built over the original concrete pathway, which can still be seen in parts, providing a visual record of the 20th-century engineering.
The geological composition of the gorge consists primarily of Jurassic limestone and dolomite.
The Caminito del Rey North Access serves as the primary entry point to a 7.7-kilometer path suspended along the steep walls of the Gaitanes Gorge in the province of Málaga. The trail features a footbridge pinned 100 meters above the Guadalhorce River, constructed originally for maintenance access to the Conde del Guadalhorce and Gaitanejo hydroelectric plants. In 2015, the path underwent a major restoration involving the installation of new boardwalks and safety anchors to replace the deteriorating original concrete structure. The route follows a linear path from the Ardales reservoir area in the north to the El Chorro train station in the south. Visitors navigate high-altitude walkways, hanging bridges, and narrow canyon passages carved by tectonic activity and river erosion. The site is managed by a reservation system requiring advanced booking for all visitors due to strict daily capacity limits. The total traversal encompasses approximately 5 kilometers of boardwalks and 2.7 kilometers of forest pathways.
The suspension bridge (Puente Colgante) connecting the two canyon walls.
Arrive at the North Access reception center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled entry time to complete safety briefings.
Use the shuttle bus service that connects the end of the trail in El Chorro back to the North Access parking areas if you arrive by car.
Carry a small backpack with water and sun protection as there are no shops or water sources along the 3-hour trek.
Attempting to visit without a pre-booked online reservation, as on-site sales are not available.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year and on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1.
Helmets provided at the start must be worn at all times; closed-toe shoes are mandatory; trekking poles and large tripods are prohibited for safety reasons.
