Some trails are breathtaking; others are just plain deadly. From razor-thin ridgelines and active volcanoes to trails where a wrong step means a free fall into oblivion, these hikes push even the bravest adventurers to their limits. Whether it’s altitude, exposure, or sheer unpredictability, these are 25 trails where nature doesn’t hand out second chances. Lace up—if you dare.
#1: Mount Hua Shan, China.
This legendary mountain near Xi’an is famous for its “plank walk of death” — a few wooden boards bolted to a sheer cliff, thousands of feet above the valley. Hikers clip into a rusty chain and shuffle sideways while the wind howls past. Pilgrims once climbed here for temples; thrill-seekers now come for Instagram.
Either way, one wrong move and it’s a straight drop to eternity.