After moving from Minnesota to Oregon it was darn near impossible to avoid adding hiking as a hobby. The state is known for amazing trails and we could get to the Pacific Crest Trail in 30 minutes. Our normal routine was day hikes in the 5-10 mile range. Our longest hike was 39 miles which we spread out over 2 days – we recuperated in between with an overnight stay at a lovely mountain lodge in Ashland. Our biggest ascent was Mt. McLoughlin, the highest peak in Southern Oregon. This is a challenging climb with an elevation gain of 4500 feet, but when you get to the peak, which sits just under 9500 feet, the view is truly stunning.

Back in 2018 on a Cabo San Lucas trip with our niece and nephew we went on several adventure excursions. We went rapeling, rock climbing, suspension bridge crossing, bungee jumping, and zip lining. We rounded out our adrenaline seeking with mountain biking, dune buggies, and sailing. I’d say we fall somewhere between thrill seeking and being content just sitting on a beach for hours.

When cousin John visited in April we wanted to plan something adventurous. He is an avid mountain biker and has been on several multi-day hiking trips. The afternoon of his arrival we hiked our favorite neighborhood “trail”: our front door to the top of Penha Mountain and we set a new record of 46 minutes. We briefly discussed doing some longer hikes or more physical day activities and finally settled on visiting a suspension bridge. The UNESCO Arouca Geopark is located 31 miles southeast of Porto and is about a 90 minute drive from our house in Urgezes.

Tickets are purchased online for a specific time as the number of people allowed on the bridge at any one time is limited and you must also choose which side of the bridge you want to start on. The cost was €12 per person and included access to the Paiva Walkways. We had printed our tickets out, but in a rush to pack sandwiches for lunch and get out the door on time, I left them on the dining room table. Fortunately Andrew was able to access the tickets electronically on his phone and it was smooth sailing from there. After parking in the designated area (we started on the Alvarenga side) there is a 20 minute hike to get into the Geopark and the Arouca 516 bridge.

The bridge is 516 meters long and is one of the longest pedestrian suspension bridges in the world. It is sleek and modern and sits oh so high above the Paiva River. The juxtaposition between rugged nature and an imposing manmade metal structure that sits like a floating work of art is truly unique.

Walking across the bridge was a complex experience. I was grinning like a kid the whole way, but my legs were wobbly and when the bridge moved I felt like I had indulged in one cocktail too many. The bridge construction allows you to see all the way down and around the gorge and I imagine it would be overwhelming for people with a fear of heights. I found myself walking at a snail’s pace because I wanted to marinate in the moment and knew it would end all too soon.

After arriving at the other end of the bridge we agreed to continue on the Paiva Walkways as far as the trail would take us. The day was warm and there were a ton of stairs, but the pathway is a gorgeously maintained boardwalk. It meanders through the canyon and follows the river. Birds were singing, insects buzzing, and although there were other people it didn’t feel overcrowded. At the end of the trail we crossed a much smaller suspension bridge and stopped for a quick picnic of sandwiches and fruit.

Since there are specified times for crossing back across the bridge and there were a lot of stairs to climb, we turned around and headed back towards Arouca 516. By the time we crossed back over the bridge and made our way back to the car we had clocked almost 8 miles of hiking. Not too shabby for an afternoon.

The Arouca Geopark has a ton of other options for adventuring including water walks, canoeing, rafting, canyoning, and mountain biking. If you find yourself in Northern Portugal with a yearning for some adventure tourism, Andrew and I would be more than happy to return to this beautiful geopark.