Some crossings test more than a traveler’s itinerary, they test nerve. Around the world, a handful of bridges have earned reputations that go well beyond scenic. Missing planks, fraying rope, sheer drops with no rail in sight, and in a few cases, wildlife lurking below. These are the crossings that show up again and again on lists of the most dangerous bridges on earth, and the reasons why are far more specific than a bit of swaying.
The Bridge That Tops Nearly Every List
The Hussaini Hanging Bridge in Gojal, in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, is the crossing that shows up first on almost every ranking of dangerous bridges worldwide. Suspended roughly 100 feet above the Hunza River near Borit Lake, the bridge stretches more than 600 feet and is built from little more than aging rope and wooden planks, several of which are missing entirely. There are no handrails to speak of, and the entire structure sways with the wind and the weight of anyone brave enough to cross it. Despite its fearsome reputation, it remains in daily use by local residents who have no alternative route.
Bridges Made From Living Trees
In the Indian state of Meghalaya, generations of the Khasi and Jaintia tribes have grown bridges rather than built them. The living root bridges are formed by guiding the aerial roots of rubber trees across rivers and gorges, a process that takes years to complete but produces a structure that can last for centuries. The catch is that these root bridges are notoriously slippery, especially in Meghalaya’s heavy monsoon season, and a single misstep on wet, uneven roots high above a rushing river carries real consequences.
Nepal’s High-Altitude Sway
The Ghasa Hanging Bridge, strung across a gorge in the town of Ghasa along a popular Nepal trekking route, sits more than 400 feet above the valley floor and stretches over 1,100 feet in length. Trekkers crossing it often describe a pronounced sway underfoot, made more unsettling by the thin mountain air and the drop below. It remains a functional part of daily travel for both porters and hikers making their way through the region.
When the Danger Comes From Below, Not Above
Not every dangerous crossing owes its reputation to height. Vietnam’s so-called monkey bridges, found throughout the Mekong Delta, are little more than single bamboo poles stretched across canals, sometimes with one thin rope serving as the only handhold. The poles turn slippery when wet and flex under body weight, and the canals beneath them are often deep, fast moving, and in some areas home to crocodiles. They remain the only crossing point for many rural communities, used daily by residents of all ages, including children and the elderly.
The Historic Crossing With a Deadly Current Below
Myanmar’s U Bein Bridge, spanning more than half a mile across Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura, is one of the country’s most photographed landmarks and also one of its most treacherous. The bridge has no handrails, and its wooden planks have grown rickety with age and constant foot traffic. It draws crowds of tourists and souvenir sellers despite the risk, and travel guides are blunt about what happens to anyone who loses their footing over deep, fast moving water.
The Bridge Fishermen Built for Themselves
Not every dangerous bridge is remote or crumbling with neglect. The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was originally strung up by salmon fishermen more than 350 years ago to reach a small offshore island. Today’s version stretches about 65 feet across and hangs nearly 100 feet above the rocks and sea below. It is now a maintained tourist attraction rather than a working fisherman’s shortcut, but the exposure to wind, height and open water still gives many visitors pause before they take the first step.
Danger Doesn’t Always Look Dramatic
Not every entry on these lists involves a jaw-dropping canyon or a jungle river. Alaska’s Muskrat Bridge is shorter and far less photogenic than its international counterparts, but its risk comes from neglect rather than height. Often icy, partially flooded, and missing slats along remote hiking trails, it is a reminder that a dangerous bridge does not need dramatic scenery to be genuinely hazardous.
What This Means for Travelers
Several of these crossings remain the only practical route for local communities, which means closure or removal is unlikely regardless of the risk involved. For travelers drawn to see them, local guides strongly recommend crossing during dry conditions, avoiding crowded crossing times, and skipping the attempt entirely during high wind or heavy rain, when several of these bridges become significantly more hazardous than usual.
This article draws on reporting and travel safety assessments compiled from multiple outlets covering the world’s most hazardous bridges, including World Unfolds, Travel2Next, and DirJournal.
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.