God's Bridge Akchour

Water has cut through a limestone spur in the Talassemtane mountains and left a natural bridge - a rock span of roughly twenty-five metres arching over the Farda river, with the water running green and cold underneath and the walls rising on both sides. It is called Pont de Dieu locally. The walk from Akchour, where the road ends at a small dam, takes about forty-five minutes to an hour upstream on a rough path with river crossings, past a string of cafes that have set up on platforms over the water and serve tagine and mint tea. A longer walk in the other direction, about two hours each way, reaches the Cascades d'Akchour, a set of falls with a pool at the bottom that people swim in. Both are within Talassemtane National Park, an area of Moroccan fir and cedar that is one of the last of its kind.

Highlights

• A limestone arch - a natural span of about twenty-five metres over the river.
• Green cold water - the Farda running under the bridge between rock walls.
• Riverside cafes - platforms built over the water along the path.
• Talassemtane forest - Moroccan fir and cedar in one of its last strongholds.

When to go

Spring and autumn; summer is hot and crowded. Half a day, or a full one with the falls.

Good to know

The path is rough with river crossings and unsuitable footwear causes most of the trouble here. Guides at the trailhead are persistent and prices should be agreed first. Weekend and summer crowds are heavy. Flash flooding after rain is a real risk in the gorge.

Nearby

Chefchaouen is south-west; Talassemtane National Park surrounds the valley.