These 8 hikes are some of the most dangerous in Utah (and in the nation) (2023)

FAQs

What is the most dangerous hike in Utah? ›

1 most dangerous hike in Utah is Angels Landing in Zion National Park. It's also one of the most dangerous hikes in the U.S., according to Discovery.com. With a series of switchbacks, hairpin turns, and rapid elevation gain, this is definitely not a hike for the faint-hearted.

America's deadliest hike is Mount Ranier in Washington State. It has claimed over 400 deaths. Anything but a “walk in the park,” Mount Ranier features extreme and fast weather changes, avalanches, falling rocks, and an unpredictable volcano. Hypothermia is common, along with broken bones, drowning, and heat stroke.

I've hiked both trails, and must admit the final stretch to the summit of Half Dome is scarier and, indeed, very likely more dangerous than the trail up Angels Landing. Nowhere on Angels Landing does the trail head up a 600-foot stretch of slick granite that at points reaches a 45-degree angle.

Everest Base Camp (EBC) The Everest Base Camp Trek in the Himalayas in Nepal is one of the most famous and also, the hardest hikes in the world.

Deaths per Million Visitors: 9.8

Going by its per-capita death rate, Denali is by far the most dangerous national park—ten times more so than Great Smoky Mountains, which sees less than one death per million visitors.

Its popularity for hikers, skiers and climbers, and the bad weather that catches some of those people unawares, makes Mount Washington arguably the deadliest mountain in America. Since 1849, more than 130 people have met their demise on its heights.

The main peak of the Annapurna massif is the most dangerous of the world's mountains, with a 29% fatality rate of everyone who tries to climb it. Since 1900, an estimated 244 expeditions have resulted in 72 deaths. The next most dangerous, is the Kangchenjunga is with a 29.1% death rate.

Going Ultralight With The Big Four. The fastest way to lighten your load is to replace one or all of the four largest items most backpackers carry: pack, tent, sleeping bag and pad.

Drowning (668 deaths) is the Leading Cause of Death at national parks and national recreation areas. Drowning is followed by motor vehicle crashes (475 deaths), falls and slips (335), natural causes (285), and suicide (260).

What is the most dangerous wilderness? ›

Last fall, investigators concluded that the family died of extreme heat stroke. Temperatures that afternoon reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit in the steep mountain terrain and the family had run out of water. A wildfire had burned off any shade canopy.

North Yungas Road, Or “The Road of Death” (Bolivia) Bolivia's “Death Road,” considered the world's most dangerous road, and it doesn't get its name for nothing! This single lane, dirt road, connecting La Paz to Coroico, clings precariously to the side of the Cordillera Oriental Mountains.

Regarding the most fatalities per 100 miles, Interstate 95 (I-95) is considered the most dangerous road in America.

There have been numerous deaths on the Angels Landing hike. If you have a fear of heights, you should not do this hike. There are sections that are very narrow with 1000-foot drops on either side. This is not the place to confront your fears.

The truth is that Angels Landing is one of the most dangerous hikes in the country. People do fall off the edge of this very, very tall chunk of rock — there are no guardrails, after all.

Why Is Angels Landing Hike So Scary? Angels Landing trail is strenuous and challenging for both the mind and body. We wouldn't recommend it for young kids or for anyone with vertigo, a fear of heights, or two left feet. For the final climb, you traverse a narrow ridge with anxiety-inducing drop-offs on either side.

Accidents and Deaths

Only two deaths have been recorded online from falls on this hike, and (surprisingly?) only one involved a fall from the actual bridge.

Why is Devil's Path dangerous? ›

Devil's Path is a twenty-five mile hike through New York's Catskill mountains. It is called the most dangerous hiking path in the Northeast due to its rapid series of elevation gains and descents as you traverse five of the Catskill high peaks.

The best thing you can do when hiking is to remember the “golden rule”: treat others the way you would want to be treated. Here are some main points of hiking etiquette. Hikers coming uphill have the right of way. If you're descending the trail, step aside and give space to the people climbing up.

Katmai National Park (Alaska)

The majority of the bears in North America live in Alaska. The highest concentration of grizzly bears in the United States is in Katmai National Park. The park was established in 1918 to protect the brown bears that frequent the area, and today it's home to an estimated 2,000 grizzlies.

Between 1958 and 2021, there were only 29 open cold cases for missing individuals at national parks, according to Trail and Summit. The Grand Canyon and Yosemite make up over half of those missing cases, with the most having vanished from California's iconic Yosemite National Park.

Approach an animal too closely - respect their privacy (around 20 m away) Drive fast, nor off the designated road/trail. Make sudden movements. Leave any litter in the park even if a basket is provided there.

The summits of the world's 14 tallest mountains are all found in what is ominously known as the “death zone,” which is typically identified as 8,000 metres (26,000 feet) above sea level. At these altitudes, the oxygen levels are insufficient to sustain human life for an extended period.

Mount McKinley, Alaska (20,320')

As the highest peak in North America, McKinley (or Denali as most call it now) commands respect. Though not Himalayan in altitude, it is considered one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb.

Nanga Parbat is one of the 14 eight-thousanders. An immense, dramatic peak rising far above its surrounding terrain, Nanga Parbat is known to be a difficult climb, and has earned the nickname Killer Mountain for its high number of climber fatalities.

The mountain most widely claimed to be the highest unclimbed mountain in the world in terms of elevation is Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 m, 24,840 ft). It is in Bhutan, on or near the border with China. In Bhutan, the climbing of mountains higher than 6,000 m (20,000 ft) has been prohibited since 1994.

What is a Level 5 hike? ›

Level 5: Moderate – Inclines start to get more intense. Gain and distance goes up. No Beginners, No Kids, Some Teens, Dogs, Hiking Footwear Recommended, Water Required. Level 6: Moderate – Simple switchbacks and distance increase. Endurance and Stamina required.

Pack Weight for Backpacking and Hiking

A loaded backpacking pack should not weigh more than about 20 percent of your body weight. (If you weigh 150 pounds, your pack should not exceed 30 pounds for backpacking.) A loaded day hiking pack should not weigh more than about 10 percent of your body weight.

A 14er is a term used to describe mountains that are at 14,000 feet or higher. Mountain climbing enthusiasts seek out these natural wonders to hike, climb, and simply enjoy. At 14,000 feet you have the normal challenges that you have on any other hike along with the added potential to get altitude sickness.

Angels Landing has been recorded as one of the most dangerous public hikes in the United States. The top of the trail peaks off at a plateau, which is more than 1,000 feet high. But the most dangerous part of the hike involves a skinny land-bridge with a metal chain for guidance.

How dangerous is the Angels Landing hike? People have died after falling from the trail. Since the early 1900s, it is believed more than 15 people have died while hiking the Angels Landing trail. That includes five deaths in the past five years, two of which occurred in 2021.

Perhaps the most dangerous trail in the park, as well as one of the most dangerous hikes in any national park in the country, is Angels Landing. Like Observation Point, this trail features a climactic-view, high above the valley with sheer drop offs all around.

The Everest Base Camp Trek in the Himalayas in Nepal is one of the most famous and also, the hardest hikes in the world. Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5,364m is where some of the best mountaineers in the world start their attempt to climb the highest mountain on the planet, Mount Everest.

As you can see, from 2017 to 2021, an average of one person per year fell and died at Angels Landing.

Why Is Angels Landing Hike So Scary? Angels Landing trail is strenuous and challenging for both the mind and body. We wouldn't recommend it for young kids or for anyone with vertigo, a fear of heights, or two left feet. For the final climb, you traverse a narrow ridge with anxiety-inducing drop-offs on either side.

Check out this 4.4-mile out-and-back trail near Springdale, Utah. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 57 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Is there a bathroom at Angels Landing? ›

Restrooms are available at Scout Lookout and The Grotto. Water filling stations are also available at The Grotto. To reach the beginning of the Angels Landing Trail, hikers must ascend the West Rim to Scout Lookout.

But the trail to Angels Landing is far from a beginner-friendly hike. In fact, even those with some hiking experience will want to consider their abilities before attempting it. At 5.5 miles roundtrip and climbing nearly 1,500 feet in elevation, the trail is physically demanding.

Zion National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it has many hazards: steep cliffs, fast-flowing rivers, severe weather conditions. Over the last ten years, 43 people have died during their visit.

Yes, beginner hikers can absolutely do the Zion Narrows day hike! Even if you don't have much hiking experience, you will be perfectly fine hiking the Narrows.

Wellsville Mountains, Utah. The Wellsville Mountains in northern Utah are considered the steepest mountains on the continent.

The Chains Section is the Deadliest Place in Zion. The attraction of Angels Landing is its “living on the edge” factor of dangerous exposure. The last half-mile of the route, called the chains section, is dramatic and narrow. The path is only a few feet wide here, thinner than a sidewalk, and exposed to high cliffs.