Don't look down: the most dangerous hikes in the world

Don't look down: the most dangerous hikes in the world

It's not just the dizzying heights that make these hikes the most dangerous in the world. Prepare for extreme weather, erupting volcanoes and dangerous wildlife on these hair-raising hikes

We've just returned from Ethiopia and thought we'd update the world's most dangerous hikes to include our latest dizzying adventure, the Abuna Yemata Guh hike.

Abuna Yemata Guh, Ethiopia

Biggest danger: Narrow rocky outcrops, deep abysses and barefoot hiking

This rock-cut church in the Gheralta region of Ethiopia is carved into the side of a vertical rock tower that drops 200 m (650 ft) on all sides. To reach it, hikers must climb a steep rock face and walk along a sheer ledge, all barefoot, as shoes are not allowed at Ethiopia's holy sites. In fact, Abuna Yemata Guh is considered the least accessible place of worship in the world.

The first part of the hike is relatively gentle: steep, but definitely doable. However, hikers soon encounter a steep spot that requires ropes. Climbers have to take off their shoes here. Eventually, a precariously narrow ledge that plunges into a hole in the rock face must be overcome before triumphantly entering the most inaccessible church in the world.

Further reading: Vertical Ethiopia, Climbing Toward Possibility in the Horn of Africa

Shackleton's Route, South Georgia Island, South Atlantic/Antarctica

Biggest Danger: Exposure, crevasses and a very remote location

alt="most dangerous-hikes-shackleton-route">David Stanley; CC BY-SA 2.0Following in the footsteps of legends on South Georgia Island

On May 20, 1916, Sir Ernest Shackleton and two others stumbled into the whaling station on the island of South Georgia, starving, exhausted and suffering extreme stress. They had just made the first ever crossing of South Georgia. The classic survival story of Shackleton and his team symbolizes this time of heroic Antarctic exploration.

Today, guided expeditions pursue one of the world's most dangerous treks, traversing this treacherous, windswept and mountainous remote island. The trek takes the form of a “self-contained” expedition, requiring clients to carry their own clothing, food, fuel and tents. No Sherpas here!

Further Reading: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Journey

Darién Gap, Panama and Colombia

Biggest Danger: Unknown jungle, risk of kidnapping and poisonous flora and fauna

alt=“most dangerous-hikes-8″>DreamtimeUnmapped: The Darién Gap is between 100 km and 160 km (60-100 miles) long

Researchers have always been attracted to the Darién Gap, but the results have mostly been disastrous. The wild tropical forest has defeated travelers for centuries.

The 48,000 km long Pan-American Highway, which stretches from Alaska to the End of the World in Argentina, holds the record for the longest motorable road in the world. However, there is a gap in the path where Panama meets Colombia. The gap is between 100 km and 160 km (60-100 miles) and there is no easy way through. You could take the ferry around it or… you could hike it. But you'll probably die.

The route is often used for drug and human trafficking, and Colombia's FARC rebels were once (and may still be) active in the region. The area is also home to some pretty nasty wildlife, including the poisonous Panamanian golden frog, deadly jungle scorpions and the rather nasty black palm.

Further Reading: Crossing the Darien Gap (A daring journey through a forbidding and enchanting and roadless jungle that is the only land connection between North America and South America)

The Labyrinth, USA

Biggest danger: flash floods, falling rocks and disorientation

alt="most dangerous-hikes-utah">Dave Riggs; CC BY-SA 2.0Utah's labyrinth is prone to flash flooding

Canyonlands National Park in Utah is home to the rocky labyrinth known as the Maze, the least accessible district of the popular national park. The jumble of colorful canyons is rugged, deep, and easy to get lost in. GPS is often unreliable and the area is prone to flash floods and rock falls - think of canyon rider Aron Ralston, portrayed in the film 127 Hours. When you go, take a pocket knife with you. Ouch!

Further Reading: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Hua Shan Mountain, China

Biggest danger: Shaky wooden platforms, vertical stairs and tricky handholds

alt="It is estimated that Mount Hua Shan claims 100 lives every year">DreamtimeIt is estimated that Mount Hua Shan claims 100 lives each year

The western mountain of China's Five Great Mountains has a long history of religious significance... and death. There are no official statistics on deaths on Mount Hua Shan, but it has been estimated that the mountain claims around 100 deaths per year! The trails to South Peak's highest point at 2,154 m (7,000 ft) include steep stairs, vertical climbs, and "paths" consisting of wooden platforms bolted to the mountainside.

Further Reading: Celestial Empire: The Yellow Mountains of China

Snowman hike, Bhutan

Biggest danger: freak weather, extreme cold and altitude sickness

alt="most dangerous-hikes-bhutan">CC BY-SA 2.0Gangkhar Peak in Bhutan seen from Snowman Trek

This is one of the most dangerous hikes in the world because thru-hikers must stay above 4,000 m (13,000 feet) for an extended period of time - around 21 to 30 days. A long stay at this altitude can lead to acute mountain sickness (AMS) or even high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Furthermore, the steep climbs, the high passes (11 in total), the remoteness of the place and the always capricious weather conditions make for an extremely challenging hike.

Further Reading: Beyond Heaven and Earth: A Trip to Bhutan

Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala

Biggest danger: molten lava, toxic fumes and crumbling terrain

alt="most dangerous-hikes-pacaya">Greg Willis; CC BY-SA 2.0Things can get hot on Pacaya

After being dormant for over a century, Pacaya Volcano erupted violently in 1965 and has been erupting regularly ever since. Located just 30 km (19 miles) southwest of Guatemala City, the volcano is a popular tourist destination where guided groups pay a fee to be driven up to a crater. But this isn't the most active (or dangerous) crater on Pacaya.

The original “trail” has officially been closed to tourists, although hardened hikers still make the undercover trek to the top of the mountain’s primary cinder cone. It is best done at night when the lava flows are easier to see.

Further Reading: Silence on the Mountain: Stories of Terror, Betrayal and Oblivion in Guatemala

Chadar Trek, India

Biggest danger: Severe cold and crossing frozen rivers

alt=“The most dangerous hikes in the world Chadar”>PROPARTHA CHOWDHURY; CC BY-SA 2.0A hiker along the icy Zanskar River

One of India's toughest treks is also one of the most dangerous treks in the world. The route requires hikers to cross the frozen Zanskar River, where the unnerving sound of gurgling water can be heard just beneath the ice cover.

On the other side of the river, hikers still cannot relax. Much of the remaining route involves shimmy along the slippery rocks that line the riverbank. Average temperatures are below freezing along the entire trail, dropping to -35 °C (-30 °F) at night, when hikers typically sleep in caves beneath tapering icicles. Expect your nerves to be well and truly in order if you make it to the end.

Further Reading: Trekking in Ladakh

El Caminito del Rey, Spain

Biggest Danger: Narrow walkways over a 100 m (330 ft) drop to the river below

alt="the most dangerous-hikes-el-camito">GABI; CC BY-SA 2.0A climber under the path on El Caminito del Rey

Spain's answer to China's Mount Hua Shan, El Caminito del Rey (the Little Path of the King), is no longer the daring hike it once was, but it still gets the adrenaline pumping. The 3km long concrete and steel path was built over 100 years ago to serve workers at a local hydroelectric plant.

The walkway fell into disrepair and was officially closed for over a decade. After extensive restoration, it reopened in 2015. Once known as the "world's most dangerous hike" after five deaths in 1999 and 2000, it is now becoming a popular tourist attraction.

Further reading: Rick Steves Snapshot Seville, Granada & Southern Spain

West Coast Trail, Canada

Biggest danger: Steep ladder sections, storms and animal attacks

alt="most dangerous-hikes-canada">DreamtimeOne of the more “stable” paths now in place

Despite a relatively low mortality rate compared to some of the other hikes on this list, the West Coast Trail's long, nearly vertical ladder sections make it a real thrill-seeker. The terrain is uneven throughout.

Hikers should be equipped to wade through rivers, climb over steep slopes and be prepared for slippery conditions. Storms regularly damage the paths and structures, making them more dangerous or often impassable. Oh, and did I mention you might encounter the odd bear or cougar along the way?

Further reading: Blisters and Bliss: A Trekker’s Guide to the West Coast Trail

Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa

Biggest Danger: Exposed rock walls, shaky chain ladders and bandits

alt="most dangerous-hikes-south-africa">DreamtimeCathedral Peak in the Drakensberg

Until recently, the “only thing” a hiker had to worry about was the appalling mortality rate for which this hike was famous. By the end of 1985, 55 people had died on the route - almost always from falls. For some reason there have been no official figures since 1985, although deaths are reported almost every year. For this reason, the route through the KwaZulu-Natal province, known as the “Garden Province”, is considered one of the most dangerous hikes in the world.

To add to the dangers, reports emerged in May 2016 of hikers being attacked and robbed by club-wielding bandits accompanied by wild dogs. Judging by comments in some reports, it was not an isolated incident that reaffirmed the Drakensberg's place among the world's most dangerous hikes.

Further reading: Hiking in the Drakensberg: 75 hikes in Khahlamba-Drakensberg Park

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