Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

Highway to Hell: Four of the World’s Most Dangerous Roads

By

Stelvio Pass Italy
Image used with permission by copyright holder
According to the National Safety Council, 2016 may have been of the most deadly year for motorists with a 14% increase in deaths since 2014. While many deaths on US roads can be attributed to a variety of reasons, most are not the result of the road itself. This is not the case with some of the most dangerous roads in the world, where the road itself is almost entirely responsible for lives lost.

Here are some of the most white-knuckle drives in the world:

Recommended Videos

North Yungas Road, Bolivia

Stock-Most-Dangerous-Road-Yungas,-Bolivia
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Also referred to as the ‘Death Road,’ the North Yungas Road connects the city of La Paz to Coroico in Bolivia and is considered to be the world’s most dangerous road. This glorified trail descends almost 12,000 feet over its 40-mile length and travelers have to contend with narrow, cliff-hugging roads, thousand-foot cliffs, and extremely limited visibility. In spite of the approximately 300 deaths on the road annually, the path has become one of the country’s top tourism destinations for thrill seeking adventurers.

Stelvio Pass, Italy

Stock-Stelvio-Pass,-Italy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of the highest paved mountain roads in all of Europe, Stelvio Pass lies high in the Italian Alps at an elevation of just over 9,000 feet. The road contains 60 hairpin turns with nothing more than a low concrete barrier standing between you and a steep death-drop over the edge. Referred to by many as the most spectacular drive in Europe, the route has also been utilized by the multi-stage Giro d’Italia cycle race several times.

Guoliang Tunnel Road, China

Editorial Only
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Carved through and along the side in the Taihang Mountains of the Henan Province, China, the Guoliang Tunnel may be one of the most unique and scenic drives in the world. Prior to 1972, the only access to the village of Guoliang was a difficult twisting path carved into a mountainside. Completed in just five years by a small number of villagers, this narrow tunnel is less than a mile long and has been dubbed the road that does not tolerate any mistakes.

Zoji La (Zoji Pass), India

Stock-Zoji-La-(Zoji-Pass),-India
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Located high in the Himalayas, the Zoji La provides an important link between Kashmir and Ladakh. At over 11,500 feet, the nine-kilometer stretch is often closed during the winter and the road is best navigated with 4WD vehicles due to its uneven surface. Even if you can avoid the high winds, heavy snow, and mud prone conditions, steep drops and no barriers make this journey incredibly intense for even the most experienced drivers.

For more white-knuckle ways, check out these most dangerous auto races and the world’s most dangerous hikes.

Topics
Clay Abney
Clay Abney
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Clay Abney is a PR guru and freelance writer living in the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia, where he spends his…
United restarts Salt Lake City route after 11-year pause
United Airlines will resume flight between SLC and IAD
Salt Lake City mountains twilight

This December, United Airlines resumes its Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City route after an 11-year break. Flights will travel daily between Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Over time, United will vary aircraft and seat count along the route. The move adds competition to the route, where Delta was the only airline with a similar flight. 
The details of United’s IAD to SLC flight
Great Salt Lake State Park, Salt Lake County, Utah Mick Haupt via Unsplash

United resumes the IAD to SLC route on December 19, 2024, initially using a variety of planes, such as the Airbus A320 and A319 and the Boeing 737-700. Later in 2025, the flight will switch to an all-Boeing fleet while gradually increasing available seats. 

Read more
Should you visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park? The latest on its hurricane damage
Great Smoky Mountains National Park recovers from Hurricane Helene
Road damage at Great Smoky Mountains after Hurricane Helene

Following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are working to assess and repair substantial damage. Hard-hit sections of the park include Balsam Mountain, Big Creek, and the Cataloochee Valley, which experienced some of the worst damage from the storm.
Hurricane Helene recovery efforts at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

According to park officials, Cataloochee Valley is currently closed until further notice as crews work to address the destruction caused by the storm. Floodwaters from Rough Fork Creek washed out several roads like the Upper Catalooche Valley Road to the point where they are impassible. Trails in the area suffered significant erosion and flooding, and nearly all of the valley’s log bridges were swept away. Officials also report that numerous trees were knocked down, campsites were flooded, and power lines were damaged. Staff are also stabilizing many historical structures like the Caldwell Barn.

Read more
Rome’s Trevi Fountain may soon require an entry fee for visitors
The proposed fee aims to reduce overcrowding and protect the fountain.
Trevi Fountain

The city of Rome may start charging an entry fee for one of its most iconic tourist destinations. The 18th-century Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s most popular (and most overcrowded) sites, drawing millions of visitors each year to toss coins into its waters and make a wish.

In a recent conversation with the Associated Press, Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s city councilor for tourism, said, “We have to avoid, especially in a fragile art city like Rome, that too many tourists damage the city. We need to safeguard two things: that tourists don’t experience chaos and that citizens can continue to live in the center.”

Read more