“Why does a man climb a mountain?  Because it’s there!” Well, avid hikers would surely add more reasons to why they embark on life-threatening challenges against Mother Nature.  The thrill of it, the adrenaline, the adventure, the sense of achievement, and the journey all explain it. Their creed is, “Common experiences are for common people.  Rare experiences are for rare people, brave and fit people. America certainly has plenty of treacherous and dangerous hikes to tackle.

This article presents some of the most dangerous hikes in America.  And by the word dangerous, we’re referring to narrow trails, bordered by deadly drops, places with extreme weather, heat, cold, flooding, wild animals, exhausting climbs, and quests in search of the unexplored, the pristine, the rare gems and beautiful vistas.  So, let’s address the most dangerous hikes in America.

Mount Rainer

Mount Ranier, in the State of Washington, tops the list.  Over 400 deaths have been recorded, making it the deadliest hike in America.  Complete with its unpredictable volcano, extreme and fast-changing weather, falling rocks, and avalanches all can lead to hypothermia, broken bones, drowning, suffocation, and heat stroke.  If you insist on scaling Mount Ranier, do so with an experienced climber, and, as the Boy Scout Motto states: Be prepared. Take warm clothes, first-aid equipment, and a good survival book.

Bright Angel Trail

You may have heard of “hot yoga,” but that pales in comparison to Grand Canyon’s “Bright Angel Trail.”  Commonly at about 110 degrees, the trail demands an uphill climb of 4,500 feet for 9.5 miles.  Can you say, “Cardio in a sauna?” Without a tank of water with you, you’ll turn into a shriveled raisin.  Dehydration makes the Bright Angel Trail one of the most dangerous hikes in the U.S.  Some folks carry water filters so they can place the end of a rubber tube in any water source, and pump water through the filter and into their mouth.  Every year, roughly 250 unprepared hikers become calls for rescue; some deaths over the years have prompted the hiring of specially-trained rangers to warn, protect, and rescue, if necessary.

Denali

North America’s highest peak is at Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska.  If wilderness and adventure are your middle names, this mount’s for you.  A machete will help you cut through the bush to get to the trails you want.  Then snow and ice will greet your feet and possibly legs, and then you may have the chance to say Hi to the local residents:  grizzly bear, moose, and other wildlife capable of scenes in horror movies if you don’t stay away. Strong winds and altitude sickness are real threats, too. The approximate count of deaths is 100 over the past 100 years, so Denali easily makes the list of most dangerous hikes in America.

Others

Other hikes deserving of inclusion in the list of most dangerous hikes in America are Kalalau on Kauai of the Hawaiian Islands, Mount Washington of New Hampshire, Zion National Park’s Angel’s Landing, Huckleberry Mountain of Glacier National Park, Yosemite’s Mist Trail, The Maze in Utah’s Canyonlands, and Abrams Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Dangerous Hikes In The United States

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