As it passes through the interior of Valencia, the River Turia crosses an impressive canyon with vertical walls of such perfection that they seem to have been carved by a kind of divine grace . The Route of the Hanging Bridges of Chulilla will allow you to enter this unique landscape, framed within the Los Calderones Municipal Natural Park , a space protected by the Generalitat Valenciana in order to preserve its environmental and cultural values.
We are, without a doubt, facing one of the most beautiful and spectacular routes in the Valencian Community. This, together with the simplicity of the route, has made this excursion one of the most popular in Valencia.
Will you accompany me to know the Route of the Hanging Bridges of Chulilla? Keep reading to find out all the details!
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Frequent questions
Where does the route start? My advice is to start in the large parking lot at the exit of Chulilla (at the end of the article you have the location). There are other options but you can leave the bottom of the car.
How many bridges are there? There are 2 suspension bridges on the Chulilla Pantaneros Route. The most spectacular is the first, due to its height.
Is it signposted? The route is marked with some posts, although it is not lost. At the end of the article you have the track, in case you want to take it on your smartphone.
How long does it take to complete the route? In total there are about 10 kilometers, round trip, so it can take about 3-5 hours, counting that you are going to stop to take many photos, etc.
We have to pay? On weekends, a fee of €1 per person is paid for access.
Is it suitable to do with children? Yes, the route is technically simple, but you will have to keep an eye on them as there are precipices. It is not suitable for carts, but for a carrier backpack.
Can it be done with dogs? Yes, although keep in mind that there can be a lot of people and you could be overwhelmed by the height.
Are there more routes in Chulilla? Yes, there are many routes, for example the Ruta del Charco Azul , simpler and very beautiful. Both can be done on the same day (at the end of the article I also leave you a circular route track).
ROUTE SHEET
- Difficulty: Easy. It can be done with children (always supervised)
- Risks: vertical falls from a great height, watch out for children
- Linear route (round trip)
- Distance: 10km
- Slope: 300 m.
- Estimated time: 4-5 hours
- Recommendations: avoid weekends (high influx)
Municipal Natural Area of Los Calderones
Today’s route will take us into the impressive Turia River Canyon , which describes two pronounced meanders – the sickles – in this area. We are in a natural area protected by the Generalitat Valenciana: Los Calderones Municipal Natural Area , of great environmental, landscape and cultural value.
As soon as the route begins, the first surprise arrives: two viewpoints that defy the void and overlook the Turia canyon, just above the vertical of Charco Azul : the Mirador de Compuertas and the Mirador de la Carrucha . After delighting in the views of both, we continue the route in a gentle descent, walking along the edge of the spectacular gorge. In this area it is advisable to be very careful if we have small children .
The gentle descent leaves us at the Paraje de Los Calderones , which gives its name to the entire protected area. Here, the Rambla de Losa flows into the Turia next to the steepest gorge, called “La Punta”. In the past, the people of Chulilla used to come here to eat “La Mona de Pascua”, a tradition of Holy Week in Valencian lands.
Route Description
From the area of Los Calderones, a moderate climb brings us closer to the entrance to the first of the suspension bridges . First, we have to go down some steep stairs.
This first bridge, 21 meters long, crosses the Turia Canyon from side to side, suspended about 15 meters above the river. The construction, with steel, wood and iron, is solid (although it sways) and very well finished.
After overcoming the first suspension bridge, a new flight of stairs leaves us in a particularly beautiful area where the river occupies the entire width of the gorge, with impressive vertical walls that practically touch each other. The riparian vegetation, the murmur of the water, the calm of the place… They are factors that invite contemplation and relaxation. Something that we will only find if we avoid weekends or get up very early… It is the only “downside” of this excursion.
Just a few meters ahead we reach the second of the suspension bridges , which in this case is about 5 meters above the river, with a length of 28 meters.
Many people end the route on this second suspension bridge, attracted only by the instagram charm of the bridges. We think that it is worth continuing the path to the Loriguilla Reservoir , thus emulating the original route followed by the long-suffering dam builders. In this way, in addition, we enter the less crowded section of the route, where the walls of the Turia canyon reach one of its most spectacular points.
I kept wondering how such vertical, plumb-cut walls could have been formed . Geology gives us the answer: millions of years ago, the Turia managed to find a way through small faults and fissures in a huge mass of limestone. Little by little, in an incessant task, the waters were undermining the hard rock that, losing its foundations, collapsed in large blocks, the origin of the vertical cuts of the canyon.
In this area it is common to find climbers , testing their limits on these vertical walls. They were probably the ones who made this spectacular route popular, making it known to the general public.
Finally, shortly before reaching the Loriguilla Reservoir, the ravine opens up and we leave the underworld of gorges to climb to the top of the dam. Considering the way to go finished, we only have to return on our steps. Something that, on this occasion, does not matter to us in the least, since it will allow us to enjoy for the second time a landscape that one would never tire of traveling…
Sleep in Chulilla
In my case, I took advantage of the occasion to make a two-day getaway to the province of Valencia, spending two nights in a Chulilla rural house and thus be able to calmly enjoy this beautiful town, its wide range of hiking trails, cave paintings , visit to his castle and other heritage and, of course, savor the delicious local cuisine. Also in the area we can enjoy other fantastic routes, such as the Peña Cortada Aqueduct in Calles.
History Hanging Bridges of Chulilla
The origin of this excursion, also known as Ruta de los Pantaneros , dates back to the construction of the nearby Loriguilla Reservoir : back then, in the decade of the fifties , the dam workers devised and materialized this unlikely journey through the Sickles of the Turia ; It was a shortcut that allowed them to walk from the town of Chulilla, where they settled temporarily while the construction work continued. Little did they imagine that, years later, the route would end up becoming a major tourist attraction for the Los Serranos region, in the interior of the province of Valencia.
Video: Hanging Bridges of Chulilla
I encourage you to watch the following video, made by the City Council of Chulilla , which perfectly describes the Ruta de los Pantaneros as well as other attractions of the population.
start point location
Where to start the route of the Hanging Bridges of Chulilla? Although there is space to leave the vehicle next to the road, in the area where the route begins, we recommend parking further down, in this car park at the Chulilla exit . In just 500 meters we reach the entrance to the Natural Park, where on weekends there is capacity control and an eco-tax (€1) is charged for the maintenance of the area.
Route Track for GPS
The Route of the Pantaneros or Route of the Hanging Bridges of Chulilla is signposted and has information panels. The normal thing will be that you meet quite a few people along the route and it really is not lost. In any case, below you can download the track for GPS via wikiloc:
Circular Alternative Route
If you are in good shape and want to do a circular variant of the Hanging Bridges Route, I recommend this 16-kilometre route with a drop of just over 400 metres, which passes through the cave paintings of the Barranco de Valfiguera and Charco Azul .
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