The 10 Most Dangerous Hikes in the World

Cascade Saddle

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There are few places on Earth that offer as much great hiking as New Zealand, but some of those routes can be extremely dangerous. Take, for example, the Cascade Saddle: An 11-mile hike that typically takes two days to complete, this trail offers visitors a glimpse of some of the views found in the "Lord of the Rings" movies. However, descending from the high alpine environments can be extremely dangerous, particularly if it is raining. Numerous hikers have suffered severe injuries or even perished on the trail after losing their footing. The incredibly gorgeous landscapes don't help much either, as they can be a distraction when it comes to making sure your feet are on solid ground.

Bright Angel Trail

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Hiking in the Grand Canyon can be epic, but always keep in mind that what goes down, must come back up. A lot of hikers seem to forget about that when they descend into the canyon via Bright Angel Trail. Park rangers are routinely called to assist hikers on this 9.5-mile roundtrip route simply because it is a challenging trek back to the parking lot. In fact, so many people run into trouble that there is a special team of rangers who are designated to this path alone. It turns out, heat and exertion can be extremely dangerous.

Mist Trail

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Yosemite's Mist Trail takes hikers to the summit of Half Dome, making it one of the most iconic routes in the entire world. The path is extremely popular, drawing hundreds of trekkers on its busiest days. To complete the 14.5-mile route, they'll need to climb Half Dome's famous steel cables, which assist hikers as they descend the side of the massive granite slab. Those cables (and the rock itself) can get very slick in the rain, causing the careless or unprepared to slip and fall. Frequent lightning storms are also a concern, with other sections of the trail turning treacherous when wet, too. In fact, more than 60 people have reportedly perished on the Mist Trail, making it one of the most dangerous and deadly in the world.