Some countries have difficult geographical features that make road construction impractical. Why can’t you get in a car and drive from Canada to Argentina or Chile by car even though North America and South America are connected? Well, there’s this really thick impenetrable rainforest that is prohibitively expensive. This also applies to much of western Brazil. The Amazon basin is simply too thick to cross and maintenance would be astronomical. Nepal is nestled high in the Himalayas. Would you try to build a road through those? No, thank you!
In America, we also have certain safety codes that must be met for construction to proceed and for the general public to start using the road. In other countries around the world, these safety codes are sometimes simply not at the same level, if they exist at all. Nevertheless, people continue to traverse these dangerous paths. Here are some of the scariest to find.
1. Atlantic Ocean Road (Norway)
The Atlantic Ocean Road connects many small islands off the west coast of Norway that are located at the entrances to its many fjords. Besides this distinctive bridge, drivers must watch out for the wild weather conditions of the North Atlantic. Large waves frequently crash over the bridge and onto the roadway.
2. Canning Stock Route (Australia)
To call the Canning Stock Route a road is more than an overstatement. It’s really a 1150-mile dirt path dug into western Australia. That’s about the length of the drive from New York to Kansas City. It is not maintained and is only recommended for 4×4 vehicles. There is also no water, fuel, or services along the route. Drive at your own risk!
3. Caucasus Road (Georgia)
The Tusheti region in the northwest of the country of Georgia is isolated, and the only road leading to the village of Omalo is full of switchbacks crossing the faces of the mountains. There are no guardrails, of course, and avalanches are frequent, especially in winter.
4. Zoji La Pass (India)
The Zoji La Pass is located in the western Himalayas. At an altitude of over 11,000 feet above sea level, the pass must close during the winter months as snow eventually makes the road impassable. Avalanches are also a constant concern throughout the year. A new tunnel under construction through the mountain is expected to significantly help matters.
5. Guoliang Tunnel Road (China)
A group of villagers raised funds to connect their remote village of Guoliang to the rest of China beyond the Taihang Mountains. Built mainly with hammers and chisels, it is three-quarters of a mile long and 16 feet high. It winds its way along the mountainside, in and out of tunnels with “window” cutouts, and features a few railings along the sides of the road.
(image via )
6. James Dalton Highway (Alaska)
Even some American roads are dangerously remote! You may recognize the James Dalton Highway (or Alaska Route 11) from the TV series Ice Road Truckers. The majority of the road is essentially gravel and there are few places to refuel along the way. There are no medical facilities along the route. It is also prone to dangerous winter conditions and flooding.
7. Hana Highway (Hawaii)
The Hana Road is not in bad condition. But as it is embedded in the Hawaiian mountainside, it features many twists and hairpin turns – over 600! It is also narrow with steep drop-offs into the ocean and several one-lane bridges.
8. Vitim River Bridge (Russia)
Does this look like a functional bridge to you? It’s actually an old train bridge that was decommissioned. Wooden planks were then placed on top to allow cars to use it as a bridge. However, the wood is now rotten and worn out. There are also no guardrails. In winter, it’s easy to slip on the icy surface and plunge into the ice. In summer, the tumultuous river rises up to the wooden planks so that you are barely afloat.
9. Commonwealth Avenue (Philippines)
Commonwealth Avenue is not dangerous due to poor condition or steep cliffs. It is one of the most congested roads in the world. Even though it is a vehicle road, it has a large number of pedestrians and cyclists on its 18 lanes. In fact, it has one of the highest rates of pedestrian deaths. Many estimates indicate that 7,000 people die each year along the road, often called “Killer Highway.”
10. Karnali Highway (Nepal)
The Karnali Highway provides goods and services to some of the most remote regions of the country. But heavy monsoon rains often cause landslides that make the road impassable. Only about 7.5% of the total length of the highway is actually paved with blacktop. In 2010, monsoon rains closed the road for 3 months, making 1/3 of the entire country inaccessible by land.
11. Karakoram Highway (Pakistan / China)
The Karakoram Road connecting Pakistan and China is one of the most dangerous in the world because it is also one of the highest paved roads in the world. Avalanches often destroy entire sections, and it is a narrow path to travel. Many areas have only stone mounds as guardrails. Fortunately, this bus was caught and all passengers were able to escape unharmed.
12. Kabul-Jalalabad Highway (Afghanistan)
The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway is another steep mountain pass with many hairpin turns that can make passengers nervous. Because it is narrow and in poor condition in some sections, traffic jams can often form. This is not a place you want to get stuck.
13. Killar to Pangi Road (India)
The Pangi Valley is an isolated tribal region that can often be cut off from the rest of India during the snowy winter months. This road is barely one lane and is mostly made of dirt and rocks. It was blasted into the mountainside. The steep and slippery conditions can make the 52 km journey take a long time.
14. Kolyma Road (Russia)
The Kolyma Road is often called the “Road of Bones” not because many people die on it, but because it was built by Josef Stalin’s gulag prisoners. That’s not to say it’s not dangerous. It is in such a state of disrepair that the road is actually easier to drive during the winter when it freezes (than the wet and muddy summer months). But whiteout conditions make it difficult to see what lies ahead.
15. Apache Trail Scenic Drive (Arizona)
The Apache Trail covers incredible landscapes, but you’d better keep an eye on the road. This loop is narrow and some of the guardrails don’t seem to keep you on the road. It is not recommended for large vehicles like RVs or even some SUVs.
16. Le Passage du Gois (France)
No, this road doesn’t lead directly into the ocean. At least, not at low tide, it doesn’t. When the tide rises, however, the road becomes impassable with waves splashing over the surface of the roadway. Even at low tide, things can still be dangerous with water or mud (or even other debris) covering the road.
17. Luxor-al-Hurghada Road (Egypt)
The Luxor-al-Hurghada Road crosses the Egyptian desert, which seems quite dangerous (especially if you break down or have an emergency). Head-on collisions are numerous and, as a result, deaths are higher. Egyptians also tend not to drive with their lights on, even in the dark! There are also reports of many bandits on the road.
18. Nanga Parbat Pass (Pakistan)
The ninth highest mountain in the world seems like a great place for a road, doesn’t it? In reality, it is mostly a dirt path barely wide enough for one vehicle bordering the mountainside. If someone approaches you, good luck turning around! It actually connects to the Karakoram Road which is also on this list and is dangerous in itself.
The twists and turns of Patiopoulo-Perdikaki make the steep slope easier for drivers to handle. However, blind hairpin turns are not perfect for visibility. And when the road is wet and slippery, it’s really better to stay away.
20. Cotopaxi Volcano Road (Ecuador)
The Cotopaxi Volcano Road may seem relatively safe and unchallenging, but with this active volcano nearby, the roads require constant maintenance. You see all that snow at the top of the cone? Flash floods are common in the area, which also destroy the pavement, and some sections are just gravel crossing a stream. Crossing waterways without a bridge seems super safe.
21. Sichuan-Tibet Highway (China)
The Sichuan-Tibet Road has the winding and turning mountain roads common to other dangerous roads on this list. Landslides and avalanches are also common. And please, don’t take your eyes off the road to try to enjoy the beautiful scenery. It’s just not worth the risk.