Bram ReusenExtreme hiking has long been the domain of those who crave a rush of adrenaline and the raw thrill of testing their limits. In 2025, with advanced gear and real-time trail monitoring now commonplace, the appeal of tackling precipitous mountain cliffs, glaciers, and deserts remains undiminished.
Whether it’s the lure of adventure, the challenge of overcoming nature’s obstacles, or simply the desire to feel truly alive, extreme hikers continue to push boundaries. In this guide, we explore 12 of the world’s most demanding hiking trails — routes that promise heart-racing excitement, an adrenaline surge, and an unforgettable experience.
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1. Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa
Image credit: billandkent | Flickr
The Drakensberg Traverse is a 65-kilometre trail through Natal National Park in South Africa. It takes in some of the most unsheltered alpine landscapes in the world. The first couple of kilometres lead up to the ridge along chain ladders, ancient cattle trails and rocky stairways. In addition to offering superb views, the Drakensberg Traverse also takes a life almost every year.
2. El Caminito del Rey, Spain
Image credit: Sam Dredge | Flickr
El Caminito del Rey is arguably one of the most famous dangerous hikes in the world. It’s not longer than three kilometres, but because it is a steel and concrete path that hangs on a sheer vertical cliff, it attracts only adventure-minded hikers. People who are afraid of heights don’t belong there.
3. Rover’s Run Trail, Alaska, USA
Image credit: ADN | Official Website
The Rover’s Run Trail in Far North Bicentennial Park in Anchorage, Alaska, is not physically challenging, nor is it dangerous in bad weather. Instead, it’s a simple leisure trail near a beautiful river. The real danger, however, are the brown bears that flock to the salmon-filled river in summer and fall. The huge number of encounters between humans and bears, which include killings, has been the reason why the trail has been relocated to a distance further away from the river. Besides bears, moose are something to watch out for as well.
4. Huayna Picchu, Peru
Image credit: Richard Droker | Flickr
The world-famous Inca Trail toward Machu Picchu is completed by thousands of people each year. Few people, however, continue on the trail past the ancient city and climb to Huayna Picchu. This is an old stairway built by the Incas that’s made up of wet rocky stairways, rotting roots and steep drop-offs. Steel cables help hikers to the top, but the real danger is the slippery way down. The fact that the trail is nicknamed the “hike of death” by locals says it all.
5. School Cliff Path, China
Image credit: Kristina McBride | Flickr
This almost incredible path is carved out in a cliff side that’s more than 1,500 metres high. What makes it even more extraordinary is that it’s used by children – the children of Genguan, a small Chinese village, use the path every day to walk to and from school.
6. Mist Trail, California, USA
Image credit: CheWel Chang | Flickr
The Mist Trail is a 23 kilometre trail leading to the summit of iconic Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California. The trail is very steep – particularly the last couple of hundred metres which require the help of steel cables. In bad weather, the surface becomes extremely slippery and during thunderstorms, the steel cables become the target of lightning. More than sixty people have lost their lives on the way up (or down) Half Dome, mostly due to bad weather.
7. Aonach Eagach Ridge, Scotland
Image credit: Bill Kasman | Flickr
This 6.5 kilometre rock scramble runs through Glen Coe Valley and traverses two Munros in the Scottish Highlands. It’s regarded as one of the most beautiful and challenging hikes in the Highlands. The views are breathtaking, but the fact that the trail runs along a sharp ridge with sheer drops and requires some technical climbing makes it dangerous. Also, there is not short or less dangerous way down if the weather turns bad.
8. Hua Shan, China
Image credit: Ian Armstrong | Flickr
Mount Hua Shan is a five-spired mountain in the province of Shaanxi, China. There are temples on the mountain’s summits, which have been climbed for many, many centuries. Every single trail on the mountain, however, is quite dangerous and is made up of nothing more than boardwalks attached to the mountain sides, ropes, vertical stairways and chains. Even despite this obvious danger, the plank walkway has become a major tourist attraction.
9. The Maze, Utah, USA
Image credit: Mike Renlund | Flickr
Only approximately two thousand people visit the outskirts of Canyonlands National Park in Utah every year. The main reason is not that it’s not scenic – rather the contrary – but that it’s extremely difficult to reach. The area known as The Maze is not only nearly inaccessible, but also very challenging to get around in. It’s filled with hidden ravines, cliffs, gullies and canyons. Although no one has ever been killed in this corner of the Canyonlands, (probably due to the extremely low number of visitors) the danger lies in the possibility of rock falls, flashfloods and getting lost.
10. Via Ferrata, Austria and Italy
Image credit: Joopey | Flickr
Via Ferrata are literally “iron ways” in the Italian and Austrian Dolomites. These walkways consist of wooden boardwalks, suspension bridges, ropes, iron rungs and steel cables. Helmets, clasps and experiences are essential to safely complete a via ferrata. It’s one of the most exciting hikes you can do in Europe and it boasts fabulous mountain views.
11. Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala
Image credit: Andy Cifuentes | Flickr
Although there aren’t any official trail to the summit of Guatemala’s Pacaya Volcano anymore after several deaths, it is still possible to scale this 2,400 metre mountain on pathways from surrounding farms. Pacaya is an active volcano which had a deadly eruption in 2010. More recently, the volcano has regularly shown signs of activity in the forms of vapors, ash clouds and lava flows.
12. Presidential Traverse, New Hampshire, USA
Image credit: Rand Snyder | Flickr
The Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is a 37 kilometre multi-day hike. It runs over an exposed granite ridge, the highest mountain ridge in the American Northeast. Mount Washington lies about halfway and is often considered to be one of the most dangerous mountains on earth. For many years it has held the world-record for highest wind speeds ever recorded and in winter, it always is one of the coldest places in the world. Although it’s not that tall a mountain, the average annual temperature is -2.7°C. Sudden weather changes, powerful gusts of wind and avalanches have claimed more than a hundred lives.
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In conclusion, as extreme hiking continues to capture the imaginations of adventurers in 2025, the fusion of cutting-edge technology and improved safety measures only heightens the allure of these daunting trails. Whether you’re drawn to the precarious heights of El Caminito del Rey or the rugged expanse of the Presidential Traverse, each route offers a unique challenge and a profound sense of accomplishment. So, pack your gear, embrace the thrill, and step boldly into nature’s most formidable terrains!
