Thrill seekers often believe hiking is less thrilling than extreme mountain activities such as climbing or skiing. But, as these difficult routes show, putting one foot in front of the other is not always the easiest option. It will require more than just a lot of guts to take on these well-known hikes.
Here are 5 most dangerous hiking trails in the world
1. Angels Landing, United States
This wickedly narrow route is not for the weak heart. The last half-mile of the five-mile trail ascends nearly 1,400 feet over a slippery sandstone spine that falls hundreds of feet on each side, despite the path being well-maintained and even paved in some areas.
2.Huashan Trail, China
The trek up China’s magnificent Mount Hua is probably the most extreme hiking experience ever. It involves crawling hundreds of feet above the ground over small wooden planks. Any mistake in judgment here will most likely be your last.
3. Caminito del Rey, Spain
‘The King’s Little Pathway’, the best option for the most dangerous hike in the world, began as a series of pathways through the El Chorro canyon for employees of a local hydroelectric facility. But these three-foot-wide paths, barely supported up by rusting beams, are now crumbling concrete due to years of neglect. Despite being a 2-mile trail, the safety wire is far from safe.
4. Striding Edge, England
Even the most beautiful hikes can turn challenging because of the Lake District’s renownedly unpredictable weather. Striding Edge, a rugged arête that leads to the peak of Helvellyn, the third highest peak in Lake District National Park, stands out in this section of England.
5. Giro del Sorapiss, Italy
The Dolomites are home to a plethora of unpleasant via ferrata, or “ways of iron,” which are paths of metal rungs driven into the rock during World War I when Italian and Austrian soldiers were engaged in intense battles atop the limestone peaks in the area. Hikers now come here in the spring and summer to experience the excitement of climbing without having to worry about dangerous falls.
