Are you a thrill seeker? Like to challenge yourself with hard or dangerous hiking trails? The US has a ton of hiking for all types and experiences, the list is literally endless. But if you are looking for America’s most dangerous hikes, the list below is the perfect place to start.
From Denali National Park in the west and the tallest mountain in North America to the east coast, in New Hampshire’s White Mountains with Mount Washington having the highest recorded wind speeds and some of the most unpredictable weather in the country. I’ve got you covered.
This is not an exhaustive list of the most dangerous trails, and many of the hikes can be found within the national parks, but it will certainly get you started on your adrenaline adventure.
Grand Canyon National Park
Bright Angel Trail
The Bright Angel Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Grand Canyon National Park, but many people underestimate the challenge. The hike is along a well graded trail, where you can pass mules carrying gear for others. Depending on how far you want to hike in the Havasupai Gardens is 9 miles (14.4km) round trip with 3,040 feet (925 m) elevation change. The first couple of miles down are through various switchbacks, which on the way back up are where the real challenge lies.
What makes this a dangerous trail? The extreme heat of an Arizona summer. It is very easy to get heat stroke here with temperatures climbing up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It is highly recommended to do this hike in the early spring or fall to avoid the worst of the temperatures. There are also some areas of loose rock, so you do have to watch your step.
Zion National Park
Angels Landing
Pretty much everyone has heard of Angel’s landing. This iconic hike is so popular they have to implement a permit system for that last stretch to the top. People have fallen off the sheer drops along this trail and died. There is a chain system to hold onto on one side but with so many people utilizing this trail, it gets tight up there. The elevation gain is 1,488 feet (453 m) along a 5.4 mile (8.7km) trail, with only a small portion being the actual Angel’s landing trail (1/2 mile).
If the heights are not for you, hiking to the start of the section is a rewarding hike all on its own. With incredible views on a plateau, you can get a great hike without permits and without fear.
Mount Washington
Hiking the Presidential Traverse takes you along New Hampshire’s highest peaks, with the highest being Mount Washington. Yes, you can drive up to the top of this mountain, many people do it. But it’s so much better to hike it. It might not seem like a dangerous hike, but it has taken the lives of 150 people. This mountain has some of the most unpredictable weather in the country, with high winds (the highest ever recorded in the country actually). Having some of the worst weather makes this climb over boulders up to the top a dangerous undertaking.
Depending on the route you take, the distance changes. From the town of Gorham (which I highly recommend staying in for your adventures in the White Mountains), you can expect a 7.9-mile out and back trip. From Pinkham notch it’s 4.2 miles. Either way, I would recommend staying at the Lake of the Clouds hut overnight, which is just a short half a mile trek from Mount Washington.
Mount Katahdin
Mount Katahdin, located in Maine’s Baxter State Park, is a bucket list hike for many and a challenging and treacherous undertaking all on it’s own, but the most dangerous part is the Knife Edge. This portion of the hike, if you choose to do it, is not for the faint of heart. People have suffered from serious vertigo on this section at the summit of the mountain. This is a 1.1 mile rock scramble with sheer drops on either side and barely wide enough to walk along. Did I mention it is up at an elevation over 4,900 vertical feet?
Yes, people have died on this trail. Over 60 people since 1933. It makes even the most seasoned of hikers uneasy.
Yosemite National Park
Mist Trail
The Mist Trail is another iconic hike at one of America’s most iconic national parks. If you are heading to Vernal Falls, the hike is 3 miles (roughly 5km) round trip, or to Nevada Falls it is a 7 mile round trip hike. It is considered a medium to strenuous hike with the hardest part being the trek up to Nevada Fall.
What makes this a dangerous hike? The slippery rocks mostly. So stay on trail and watch your footing. The spray from the falls coats everything and makes the hike a bit more trecherous.
Kalalau Trail
Located on the Nāpali coast of Kauai, this 11-mile one way trek is a must do for backpackers. Many will turn around part way through the trek and camping requires a permit with the only places that allows camping being at Hanakoa or Kalalau.
This hike is dangerous for many reasons. The streams can swell with rainwater with little to no warning, rocks can fall from cliffs, and the trail has sheer cliffs with loose rock and narrow sections that can get slippery. People have lost there lives here and been stranded. There is no cellphone service and it is very remote, making rescue difficult. But it’s also considered one of the most beautiful hikes in the United States. If you are new to hiking, maybe this shouldn’t be your first choice. There is a lot of elevation gain and loss along this trail and should be in good shape and be smart about the risks.
Glacier National Park
There is so much great hiking in Glacier National Park and it is by far one of my favorite national parks to date. The landscape and the wildlife are just out of this world beautiful. However, the biggest risk here are the grizzly bears. I hate to make wildlife out to be the bad guy, because generally it’s not there fault, it’s ours for leaving food out or habituating them by leaving trash behind, but grizzly attacks happen here.
Glacier has the highest grizzly bear population density of any national park in the lower 48 states. It is recommended you hike with bear spray and make noise while you hike (not with a speaker though, no one wants to hear your music). Some of the best hikes in Glacier National Park are the highline trail and Avalanche Lake trail, but there is a ton of back country hiking options and some backcountry huts to stay in too.
Denali National Park
Of course, the list wouldn’t be complete without including one of the seven summits. Denali. This is the tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet (6,190 m) and with the ever changing weather conditions, remote location and risk of altitude sickness, this is a dangerous trek.
There are a ton of guiding companies to help minimize the risks, but this is a strenuous trek that requires some skills, mostly how to self arrest and crevice safety. You should prepare in advance of this one. Go climb Mount Rainier in the Pacific Northwest or some of Colorados 14,000 footers to get into mountain shape. People have definitely lost their lives on this mountain, so the more prepared you are the better chance of having a safe climb.
Concluding Thoughts
This list of the most dangerous hikes in America are often also some of the most difficult hikes. But the rewards of hiking these trails are great. These hiking trails are in some of the most pristine and incredible natural areas in the country, with photo opportunities around every corner. It’s not hard to see why people continue to risk it all on these amazing treks.
