Geierlay Hängeseilbrücke – Mörsdorf, Germany

Geierlay Hängeseilbrücke in Mörsdorf, Germany is the longest rope suspension bridge in Germany! It just opened in Oct. 2015 and is only a 1 hour and 10 minute drive from Spang but can easily be added as part of a day trip to Cochem because it’s only 25 mins from there. While this is a neat experience there are a few things you should know to make your visit the best experience possible.

The parking area is located at the visitors’s center, Besucherzentrum. There are quite a few spots but if you arrive when it’s full you’ll be squeezing into some tight parking areas. It’s €2 for the day. Inside the visitor’s center you’ll find restrooms for free, please use these before heading to the bridge!! The bridge is a good 20-25 min walk each way and there are no restrooms along the way, it’s 1.8 km each way. The visitor’s center is also attached to a restaurant and there is a sliding glass window where they will sell you snacks, and crazy prices. A bottle of soda will run you €3,50, so best bet would be to bring your own snacks or plan to eat in the restaurant. Visitor’s center and restaurant were both open on Sunday while we were there around 4 pm. I think the main part of the visitor’s center with the restrooms probably stays open as it’s unstaffed, but not sure if it does ever get locked at any point.

Leaving the visitor’s center you can go to the right and follow the signs or go to the left like we did, we followed a local and he said it was a better route. We walked down and then made a left on the street and a right onto the street to the walk path. There is a porta potty along this route but not sure if its kept stocked or not.

Once on the walk path you just follow the signs for ‘Geierlay’ which is quite a hike still away. There will be some info signs along the way but they were in German. When you get to the T at the end, take the left and you’ll be at the bridge area. There are some benches and seating for those who are wanting to take a break.

Walking across the bridge is free and it’s always open with the exception of during severe weather. Yes, you can walk your dog on leash across, you can even walk a bike across if you’d like. The bridge is fairly narrow so leave the strollers and walk/carry across.

The walk across the bridge will take about 6 mins is your walking fast (read scared and trying to quickly get across) a little longer if your stopping to take photos. The ends of the bridge a bit uphill so you’ll feel that in your thighs as you make the trek back and off the bridge.

While the bridge is sturdy there is still a bit of sway/movement. I think that was what freaked the guys out the most, it didn’t bother the rest of us. It’s not a whole lot but if you stop and stand still you will feel and see it, and we were there on a day with no wind.

I’m sure the area looks very pretty when it gets a bit warmer and greens up but we needed to get out there while we had a chance since it’s been on the list since it opened in Oct. last year. We took family out to Cochem and I wanted to hit it while we were out that way and had a chance. Otherwise it’s a 1 hour 10 min drive from the Spangdahlem area and there is nothing else in that village to see.

If you like exploring high bridges then you’ve gotta check it out. Highline 179 is much higher and longer but it’s also much further from here. So this one is a great option in the local area. We loved it, our hubbies…not so much 😉 There is also a webcam where you can check out the bridge from the comfort of your own home as well, you can find it HERE.

Know Before You Go

What: Geierlay Hängeseilbrücke – Mörsdorf, Germany

How To Get There: It’s about 1 hour 10 mins from Spangdahlem, and 1 hour 25 mins from Ramstein. GPS addy: Lahrer Str. 10
56290 Mörsdorf, although 10 was no in our GPS, we used 8 and it had us turn off the main road…read below…

Parking: Parking is at the Besucherzentrum, don’t turn off the main road, go past the wooden building on the left and you’ll see the Parking signs. Parking is €2 for the day, and the lot is fairly big but when busy (like on a Sunday) it may require some good parking skills to get in the few last spots.

Cost: Free

Traveling with little kids: While you can use strollers for the walk out to the bridge, and it’s a long walk, please plan on baby wearing across because the bridge is not super wide and you need to let people pass you going the opposite way. There is a seating area (benches) where you could leave the stroller.

How long: Plan on at least 1.5 hours, more if you walk slow or want to eat in the town.