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Tucked into the northernmost corner of the province of Granada, where the Altiplano meets the rugged peaks of the Sierra de Castril Natural Park, sits the stunning whitewashed mountain town of Castril. Clinging to the vertical rock face of the monumental Peña de Castril, the town is renowned across Spain for its exhilarating Cerrada del Río Castril hanging wooden walkway hike.
1. The Cerrada del Río Castril Hike (Pasarelas Colgantes)
This accessible, family-friendly trail is one of the most exhilarating river gorge walks in Spain:
- Cantilevered Wooden Walkways: Suspended directly over the rushing, turquoise waters of the Castril River, anchored into the sheer vertical limestone canyon walls by heavy steel pins.
- The Suspension Bridge: A thrilling rope-and-wood suspension footbridge crossing high above the river rapids.
- The Rock Tunnel: A 70-meter-long tunnel hollowed out of the solid rock wall leading to an old watermill (Molino de la Cerrada) converted into a riverside restaurant.
- Technical Details: Length ~2.2 km; Duration ~1 to 1.5 hours; Difficulty: Very easy and suitable for all ages.
2. The Fortress on the Rock (Peña del Castillo)
High above the village, climb the path leading to the ruins of the 12th-century Moorish fortress perched atop a sheer vertical cliff. The panoramic observation deck offers sweeping views over the whitewashed roofs, olive groves, and the shimmering turquoise reservoir of the Portillo Dam.
