READERS COMMENTS

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

I've hiked angel's landing twice, and to me it's not bad at all! I've hiked stuff in Red Rock Canyon (just outside Las Vegas) that was just as gnarly without any aid of chains or ropes (Bridge Mt. being one of them). However, for a popular hike (one that families and people of all levels have access to and do each week) then yes, it is 'treacherous'. I'd just be careful in saying it's "extremely dangerous" or one of the "10 most dangerous hikes", b/c that might skew the description of some of these others.
Posted: Nov 17, 2008 Jason R

I have hiked 3 of the 10 on this list and totally agree with Michael...Angels Landing is extremely dangerous...like nothing I have ever experienced before or since.
Posted: Nov 14, 2008 Johnnylama

Any 10 most dangerous list without Angels Landing in Zion is a bit suspect!
Posted: Nov 14, 2008 Michael

How about the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska?
Posted: Nov 14, 2008 Sharon

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