For thrill-seeking nature enthusiasts, the typical tranquil and quiet hiking trails are not enough. The impending heights, edges of craggy hills and constant lingering of danger are what interests them.
So if you are one of those who don’t find amusement park rides thrilling anymore, then perhaps a dangerous hiking trail is for you. In this list, we are not going to send you to an unmarked mountain range with no help around; instead expect to find established hiking trails that seem to be created exclusively for thrill-seekers.
Just reading about them can give you butterflies in your stomach.
Huayna Picchu, Peru
Also known as Wayna Picchu, this is a peak in Peru that is higher than Machu Picchu. It towers high above the ancient Incan city and provides beautiful views of other mountain peaks that surround Machu Picchu. The trail is sharp and takes almost an hour to cross. Locals call it the ‘Hike of Death.’
School Cliff Path, China
This scary-looking trail is actually used by children of a village called Genguan who use it to commute to and back from school every day. The path has been carved out of a cliff side that is over 1500 meters above seas level.
Hua Shan, China
The mountain of Hua Shan has been climbed by many for centuries, millennia even, and despite modern day additions to the trails to make them easier, they still continue to be not for the faint-hearted. There are actually multiple trails to the summits of the mountain, each deadlier than the other.
El Caminito del Rey, Spain
This hike is especially for those who have no traces of vertigo. The path hangs by a vertical cliff and stretches for almost 3 kilometers.
Peek-a-boo Gulch, America
Here the worry is not toppling over a cliff face, rather the chance of getting stuck. This trail is famous for paths that are extremely narrow and confined.
Pacaya volcano, Guatemala
How does hiking on a trail near an active volcano deep in the thick jungle sound? Oh and there are jungle bandits that linger around the area as well. The trail takes an average 2 hours to complete, that is if you manage to escape the bandits.
Via Ferrata, Italy and Austria
Boasting a sheer alpine trail, breathtaking views and a good mix of wooden boardwalks, iron rungs and suspension bridges, Via Ferrata is one of the best hiking trails for thrill-seekers. No wonder it’s one of the most popular hiking trails in Europe.
The Maze, USA
The trail itself is mazelike and chances of getting lost are pretty high. Gullies, canyons, ravines and precipitous cliff faces – you have them all here. The challenge is not only to get around, but rock falls and flashfloods.
Aonach Eagach Ridge, Scotland
This trail requires technical climbing and that just adds more to the deadly factor, especially for novice climbers. The challenging hike runs along a steep ridge that has plentiful drops down below. The problem here is that if the weather turns bad, then you’ll have to be prepared to go back the same way you came from, this time around in difficult weather. Making it more deadly than it already is.
GR 20, France
On the French island of Corsica is this hiking trail that is perfect for all thrill-seeking enthusiasts. The rugged hiking trail goes on for miles stretching from the north to the south. The trail is uneven and is near perpendicular to the ground at times. It is considered to be the toughest long-distance trail in Europe.
P.S. try these at your own risk.
