The refreshing route that few know in Málaga with walkways over the river that enchants families and hikers

There are routes remembered for the harshness of the path and others that remain in memory for the constant sound of water, the shade of the trees, and the feeling of advancing suspended over a river. In the heart of the Serranía de Ronda, among moist meadows, ancient mills, and mountains covered with vegetation, the journey along the Genal river walkways has become one of those unique trails that show a different side of the inland of Málaga. A short, accessible itinerary surrounded by nature that runs between bridges, mountain paths, and metallic structures hanging over the stream.

Located in the municipality of Jubrique, in the Lower Genal Valley, this hiking route stands out for combining landscape, heritage, and a particularly attractive experience for families and fans of calm hiking. Its path, just 3.8 kilometers long, allows the discovery of one of the greenest and most lush environments in the province of Málaga.

A hiking route along the Genal River in the Serranía de Ronda

The trail of the Genal river walkways starts near the Venta San Juan, by the MA-8305 road. From the first meters, the route shows the moist and mountainous character of this area of the Serranía de Ronda, where agricultural meadows and riverside vegetation are an inseparable part of the landscape.

The route has a round-trip layout on the same path, which allows exploring the environment from different perspectives during the return. The itinerary begins with a ramp from which you can view the profile of the town of Algatocín, nestled among the mountainous sierras, before moving along next to the San Juan camping site and crossing the Monardilla river via a wooden bridge.

Throughout the journey, plant debris dragged by the floods of the Genal river appears, reminding of the natural force of this enclave that structures much of the life and landscape of the region.

The metallic walkways, one of the great attractions of the route

One of the most characteristic elements of this trail are the metallic walkways installed over rocky areas and close to the riverbed. The first section appears approximately at kilometer 1.3, after a stone staircase without handrails that leads to one of the most striking sectors of the route.

These structures allow advancing suspended over the Genal river while the environment opens up among embankments, vegetation, and agricultural meadows. The so-called high walkway, equipped with a guide cable, constitutes one of the most unique moments of the walk, providing a different experience within the hiking routes of Málaga.

The combination of walkways, narrow paths, and constant proximity to water makes this itinerary one of the most original in the interior of Málaga, especially during the hot months, when the shade and humidity soften the temperatures.

A journey through meadows, mills, and nature

The itinerary crosses different agricultural meadows that reflect the historical link between the towns of the Genal and the use of water. As you advance, spaces like the meadow of the Cuarterones, surrounded by chestnut and carob trees, appear, as well as other corners where ancient traditional crops survive.

Architectural vestiges linked to the rural past of the region also emerge, such as the Ventorriche sale or the Cypress mill, currently restored as a rural dwelling. The trail continues through areas like the meadow of the Tiritones, where olive and pomegranate trees predominate, or the meadow of Juan Ruiz, marked by small family gardens among poplars.

In the path of the Limones, there is also a connection with two major hiking itineraries of the province: the GR-249, corresponding to the Great Path of Málaga, and the GR-141, linked to the Great Path of the Serranía de Ronda.

The Prado de la Escribana and the environment of the Lower Genal

The final stretch of the route runs very close to the stream before reaching the third metallic walkway, located near the Prado de la Escribana. This recreational area, surrounded by poplars and equipped with stone tables, serves as the endpoint of the itinerary and one of the most open places on the route.

Very close by, a concrete bridge allows crossing the Genal river and connecting with the forest tracks that ascend towards Benarrabá. The landscape becomes broader and clearer here, offering a different view of the valley and the mountainous environment surrounding the stream.

The meadow of the Escribana concludes a route marked by the constant presence of water, vegetation, and traces of the agricultural past of this part of Málaga.