10 stunning bridge hikes around the world
Walk this way and thank us later.
As all outdoorsy folks know, the reward for a great hike is often the views at the summit—except for when it comes to bridge walks. On a pedestrian bridge, the whole hike is the prize, with breathtaking vistas the entire time. Offering panoramas of forests, lakes, waterfalls, and more, the following 10 bridge hikes prove that sometimes the journey is even better than the destination.
516 Arouca Bridge
Arouca, Portugal
If you’re up for a long walk, this is “by far one of the best things you can do in Portugal,” said one Tripadvisor community member. Opened in 2021, the 516 Arouca Bridge claims to be the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world, spanning 1,692 feet over the Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark. While hiking across, you can marvel at rolling hills, craggy rock formations, and a rushing waterfall beneath you. If you bring your binoculars, you might also spot some of the park’s famous wildlife, including deer, wild rabbits, red squirrels, otters, Iberian wolves, and round-winged eagles.
Tickets are required to walk the bridge, and tours are recommended. Book a day tour from Porto with either Detours or Ennetours well in advance, as both companies sell out quickly.
SkyBridge Michigan
Boyne Falls, MI
Located at Boyne Mountain Resort, SkyBridge Michigan is the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge. It debuted in fall 2022 and stays open year-round for gorgeous views of the North McLouth terrain park and the Village at Disciples Ridge. After riding the historic Hemlock Scenic Chairlift to the top of Boyne Mountain, visitors can walk the entirety of the 1,200-foot-long bridge, then hit either of two paved trails (the shorter one offers sweeping vistas of the bridge and valley below, while the seven-mile one runs back down the slopes).
Should hunger strike, grab a sandwich or soup at Eagle’s Nest, a bistro at the top of the Hemlock lift. And when you’re ready to call it a day, settle in at Boyne Mountain Resort, which features nearly 400 accommodations ranging from hotel rooms to cabins that sleep up to 12 people.
Caminito del Rey
Malaga, Spain
Once considered among the most dangerous paths in the world, the Caminito del Rey runs for almost five miles along sheer cliff faces, through canyons, and across a bridge suspended 328 feet above the Gaitanes Gorge. If you can bear to look down, you’ll enjoy awe-inspiring views of the gorge and the green-blue Guadalhorce River, plus wildlife sightings of Egyptian vultures, golden eagles, wild boar, and Iberian ibex.
The best way to experience the aerial trail is on a seven-hour guided tour with Julia Travel Costa Del Sol, complete with roundtrip transfers from Malaga. As one Tripadvisor community member wrote, it’s “an amazing experience not to be missed if you’re in the area. Spectacular views and knowledgeable tour guides.”
Elmore Pedestrian Bridge
Tempe, AZ
Tempe Town Lake—a man-made body of water in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area—is home to six noteworthy bridges. The flâneur favorite is Elmore Pedestrian Bridge, which connects the lake’s north and south shores and sparkles with bright blue lights after dark. Once you’ve crossed, continue your stroll on the more than five miles of paths around the lake’s calm waters.
If you’re planning to explore the lake and its bridges, make your home base the AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Tempe/Downtown, which has a standout rooftop pool, or the AAA Four Diamond Tempe Mission Palms.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Walking the 450-foot-long Capilano Suspension Bridge, which hangs 230 feet above the Capilano River just outside downtown Vancouver, affords thrilling vistas of the surrounding rain forest. The stroll becomes even more magical during the holiday season, when the bridge is illuminated by Christmas lights. If you want a local guide to lead you across the bridge and around nearby attractions, book a tour with Gray Line Westcoast Sightseeing or Vancity Tours, both of which come highly recommended by Tripadvisor community members.
Sundial Bridge
Redding, CA
Architecture aficionados, take note: Spanish “starchitect” Santiago Calatrava designed the stunning Sundial Bridge in northern California. (Fans might recognize echoes of this work in his World Trade Center transportation hub in New York City.) Built 700 feet above the Sacramento River, the bridge is actually a functioning sundial (one of the largest in the world, in fact), but it casts such a large shadow that it can only record time from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and doesn’t work in the winter months. If you’re there during the right window, however, it’s incredible to watch the shadow move about one foot per minute as you walk across the bridge.
From the bridge—which serves as an entrance to the Sacramento River Trail system—amble down the 1.4-mile-long Turtle Bay Loop Trail around Lake Redding. Afterward, rest your head at the dog-friendly Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge. The hotel is home to the excellent Mosaic restaurant, serving stone-oven pizzas in a freestanding building near the bridge.
Hanging Bridges at Tree Trek Boquete
Boquete, Panama
On the banks of the Caldera River in western Panama, Tree Trek Boquete Adventure Park is not for the faint of heart. Purchase the Hanging Bridge Tour and you’ll enjoy a 2.7-mile trek across six different bridges, each suspended almost 250 feet in the air. The roughly two-hour excursion travels through a “pretty, rain-forested area with lots of fast-running streams and white water under the bridges,” wrote a Tripadvisor community member.
Once you’ve had your fill of cloud forest, post up at Los Establos Boutique Resort, nestled on one of Panama’s oldest operating coffee plantations with views of the Baru Volcano. The hotel’s all-inclusive rate includes one excursion per day, such as the aforementioned Hanging Bridge Tour.
Mile High Swinging Bridge
Linville, NC
Perched 5,305 feet above sea level, the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain—a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve—is America’s highest suspension footbridge. The walk across is under half a mile, but there’s no shortage of natural splendors to see along the way, including jagged peaks and majestic forest. If you can’t or don’t want to make the 50-step climb to the bridge, know that there is elevator access.
After an adventurous day in the reserve, head to Chetola Resort, a quaint inn in Blowing Rock, or the Horton Hotel, a boutique property with a scenic rooftop bar.
Wonju Sogeumsan Mountain Suspension Bridge
Wonju, South Korea
The 656-foot-long Wonju Sogeumsan Mountain Suspension Bridge is the longest of its kind in Korea and dazzles with forest, gorge, and mountain views. Just be aware: it sways underfoot. You’ll need a ticket to walk across and hours are limited. Try visiting on a weekday to avoid crowds and be sure to also explore the walkways near the bridge, which “offer some good views of the town and nearby mountains,” according to one Tripadvisor community member.
Senda dil Dragun
Flims Laax, Switzerland
Opened in 2021, Senda dil Dragun is astonishingly beautiful. The world’s longest treetop walk, it connects the villages of Laax Murschetg and Laax Dorf, running eye level with the surrounding trees for nearly a mile. Stops along the way offer seating and plaques with interesting facts about the native flora and fauna. There’s even a 240-foot spiral slide at the entry tower in Murschetg and AR experiences for both adults and children to learn more about the plants and animals along the trail.
Located within LAAX, one of the world’s largest ski resorts, Senda dil Dragun is near several hotels. One of the more convenient options is Rocksresort, right near the LAAX lift station. Here, you’ll find a variety of stylish accommodations, plus eight restaurants and six bars.