READERS COMMENTS

I've hiked Half Dome several times and there's nothing out of the ordinary "dangerous" about it. Each time I've done it, I've seen the stupid people climbing outside of the cables, the out of shape people that have no business hiking in sandals, and the people wading too far out into the rivers. If you are in decent shape and have common sense, there isn't anything dangerous about doing it.
Posted: Aug 31, 2010 Marie

Long's Peak being a higher altitude and not having a road all the way to the top, I would say make it a much more difficult hike than Pike's Peak.
Posted: Aug 19, 2010 Brian

I have hiked Mt Washington numerous times, mostly in the fall and have experianced the fury of it's well deserved reputation. What about Vancouver Island's West Coast Trail? Surely it should be up in the top 5...
Posted: Jul 26, 2010 Rick G.

Abrams Falls? Seriously?? Ok, the danger is in *swimming* at the Falls, not *hiking to* the Falls. Easy hike, really easy.
Posted: Jan 14, 2010 outpost

What's with the Angels Landing talk? Buckskin Gulch is far more arduous and presents more life threatening possibilities and Angels Landing. My wife who suffers from firbomyalgia did Angels Landing with nary a problem.
Posted: Jan 13, 2010 Furious George

I hiked the Kalalau Trail last August with my wife and daughter. Most of the trail is just spectacular views but the "Crawlers Ledge " part will test you. The Mt Washington summit can be reached from several different routes. If you have the time , try the southern route from Rt 302. Then go over the nortehrn peaks to rt 2 and avoid the crowds on the Tuckermans Ravine. Just use common sense on both of these trails.
Posted: Jan 04, 2010 Richard Ruch

I did some of the Kalalau Trail in Feb 2009. There is alot of trail erosion, alot of it is caused by the wild pigs that roam the island. Even though there are controlled hunts, the pigs are prolific and dig up the trails which then erode when the heavy rains come. You need your poles and good boots, and raingear.
Posted: Jan 03, 2010 Julia P

Just attempted a hike of the Skookum Volcano area in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park this summer. It's not a trail per se (it's a route... you follow sheep trails, basically), but it is by far the most dangerous hike I've ever seen. Loose footing, steep inclines, sudden drop-offs, hard-to-find trails... yeah, definitely incredibly dangerous. Beautiful, but dangerous.
Posted: Dec 31, 2009 Philip

Lame. Most of the scrambling hikes in Red Rock Canyon (20 miles west of Las Vegas, NV) are much more dangerous than any of the hikes listed. They make Angel's Landing look like a walk in the park.
Posted: Dec 31, 2009 Branch Whitney

And nothing from Alaska...really? I have an idea for an article...how about the 10 best magazines that feature a 10 best article in every issue. I like BP mag and certainly mean no disrespect, but they'd definitely make the list.
Posted: Dec 31, 2009 Oberlatz

Having hiked seven of the listed trails and areas solo, I can agree that the Maze may be the most dangerous. Few trails, scarce water, heat, and steep narrow canyons make prior experience and planning definite prerequisites. However, the hazards of all these trips can be minimized by checking weather reports, trail guidebooks, experience, the right equipment, and common sense. Many would agree that doing them solo increases the hazard - very true, but that is a very personal decision and can add so much to the experience.
Posted: Nov 03, 2009 bud

The Chilkoot's not especially dangerous. Has some tricky areas, and I wouldn't recommend hiking it in wet or damp conditions, as some crossings are high, narrow and get slippery. The Golden Stairs is the worst part; steep and on loose boulders. Hiking poles recommended.
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 Molly

A little hard to believe Longs Peak wasn't listed
Posted: Oct 29, 2009 Scott

I've hiked abrams fall n the smokies n found it an easy, safe hike. Am I missing somthing far I'm planning to hike it again this week. My email; amconrod@gmail.com
Posted: Oct 18, 2009 Annemarie

I have hiked in the Maze and Angles Landing. Both have risks and rewards. I do not think that it is easy to fall at Angles Landings, but if you do you die. The reward at Angles Landings is maybe the best view in the world. Angles Landings takes no planing. Just show up and hike it. The Maze on the other hand will kill you if you are not well prepared. Hiking the Maze solo is just nuts. Way to many ways that a small mistake or mishap can lead to really bad outcomes. The reward from hiking the Maze is metaphysical. A oneness with nature that I have not found anywhere else.
Posted: Oct 11, 2009 Charles

I have hiked 4 of these hikes on the list but the most dangerous hike I did was the HuaShan plank path in China. Here's a good good video link I found of the Plank Path hike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nq0vtU-LVc
Posted: Sep 30, 2009 steve roper

the chilkoot is fairly easy, well, intermittent. i hiked it with a a family with 4 young teens, and 2 older women, all non-hikers for the most part. there is one part... i have been on some of teh mentioned hikes. if those are the most dangerous, then i am disapointed at the tame wilderness. haah - i know several harder!
Posted: Jan 28, 2009 lina

So is it the Mist Trail or Half Dome that's so dangerous? I've done the Mist Trail many times and Half Dome once, and I'd have to say that lightning and stupidity are what make that hike particularly dangerous. Granted I haven't been on any of the others listed but I'd imagine that they are inherently more unsafe.
Posted: Jan 20, 2009 Jeff

Sitting on my deck looking at Mt. Washington, NH right now covered in snow. The temp at the top is -9 degrees with a wind chill of near -40 below. Just another average December day on "The Rock Pile" Yeah, it's dangerous!!
Posted: Dec 09, 2008 "Willie"

The two on this list that I've done, Buckskin Gulch and Bright Angel, were tip-toes through the tulips next to the last couple of hundred yards of Angels Landing.
Posted: Nov 19, 2008 Cactus Paul

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