Trollstigen (Norway)
Trollstigen (The Troll Ladder) is a mountain road in Rauma, Norway, part of Norwegian National Road 63 connecting Åndalsnes in Rauma and Valldal in Norddal.
A popular tourist attraction due to its steep incline of 9% and eleven hairpin bends up a steep mountain side, the road up is narrow with many sharp bends, and although it has been widened in recent years, vehicles over 12.4 meters
long are prohibited from driving the road. At the top there is large parking place which allows visitors to leave their cars and walk for about ten minutes to a viewing balcony which overlooks the road with its bends and the Stigfossen waterfall. Stigfossen is a beautiful waterfall which falls 320 meters down the mountain side.
The Death Road (Bolivia)
The North Yungas Road, also known as The Death Road, is a 61 to 69 km road leading from La Paz to Coroico (Bolivia’s capital, to the Amazon region) in the Yungas region of Bolivia. It is legendary for its extreme danger: in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the “world’s most dangerous road. ” One estimate is that 200-300 travelers were killed yearly along the road. The road includes crosses marking many of the spots where such vehicles have fallen.
At the end of 2006, after 20 years of construction, a new road (a by-pass) from La Paz to Coroico was opened to public. This new route features modern construction (bridges, drainage, etc.), multiple lanes, pavement, guardrails and many other elements that make it considerably safer than the original route. As a result, the original North Yungas Road is currently much less used by traffic, although an increasing number of adventure travelers bike it for the thrills.
Sichuan-Tibet Highway (China)
In China, the number of deaths caused by car accidents has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, climbing from 3.9 to 7.6 per 100,000 of the population between 1985 and 2005. The Sichuan-Tibet Highway, a high-elevation road between Chengdu and Tibet where landslides and rock avalanches are common, is undoubtedly part of the problem.
The 2,412km long Sichuan-Tibet Highway starts from Chengdu of Sichuan on the east and ends at Lhasa of Tibet on the west. The road stretches into Lhasa passing Ya’an, Garze and Chamdo. Sichuan-Tibet highway traverses 14 high mountains which average 4,000-5000m, spans dozens of famous rivers (Dadu River, Jinsha River, Lantsang River, Nujiang), crosses primeval forest and numerous dangerous sections. It has spectacular views along the line, with unique ethnic customs.
Guoliang Tunnel Road (China)
The road in Taihang mountains was built by local villagers: it took five years to finish the 1,200 metre long tunnel which is about 5 meters high and 4 meters wide. Some of the villagers died in accidents during construction; undaunted, the others continued. On May 1, 1977, the tunnel was opened to traffic. It is located in the Taihang Mountains, in the Hunan Province of China.
Stelvio Pass Road Trollstigen(Italy)
The highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps –and the second highest in the Alps, after the Col de l’Iseran (2770 m)–, the Stelvio Pass Road connects the Valtellina with the upper Adige valley and Merano. It is located in the Italian Alps, near Bormio and Sulden, 75 km from Bolzano, close to Swiss border.
While it might not be as risky as other deadly routes, it’s certainly breathtaking. The tour books advise that the toughest and most spectacular climbing is from the Prato side, Bormio side approach is more tame. With 48 hairpins, this road is regarded as one of the finest continuous hairpin routes in the Alps.
Know the world’s most dangerous roads? Want to something to the list? Leave a comment below.
waaaaah…scary roads!!
:) What do you think is the scariest road in the list? Mine is The Death Road.
What about iceroads in canada, where you drive on frozen lakes or ocean ?
Hi, thanks for your comment.
I’ll be adding them on the list soon. Thanks!
Try Wolfs Creek pass in Colorado.
Hi Neal Perry,
I can’t any decent image of Wolf’s Creek Pass online. Do you have some images of it? or just provide me the url and i’ll be glad to download it and add it to the list.
Thanks sir
Having been part of the building of the death road i can say the present road is really a super hiway compared to what it was before we started the rebuild. S.J Groves & Sons Co., a US contractor lost many lives and machines including one helicopter and piolet in the process.
I salute you Sir, because of the courage and hard work you have showed. Such an amazing display of courage. Lots of people have died in that road, doing what they want to accomplish, but sadly; bad things happens.
It’s nice to have you here, it’s a privilege to know Sir Gary Thomas – “One of the builders of the Death Road.”
Dare you go there :D
Hi Phaoloo,
If i can i will :)
There is a local road outside of Bishop, California which is the turn-off and road to North Lake from the road to Lake Sabrina. This is a short dirt road cut into the side of a steep cliff and has a steep grade and is also only one lane wide. There are no safety barriers and uphill traffic must back down to allow downhill traffic to pass! You can check it out on google earth.
Hi Sir Brian,
Thanks for your comment and your thoughts about other dangerous roads in this world… I’ll check it out soon.
How about the “Transfagarasan” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transf%C4%83g%C4%83r%C4%83%C5%9Fan) – it’s really twisty and covered in snow most of the year :) (just been there last weekend)
Hi Sir Razvan,
I have just checked your link out. And i have found out that i missed it in the list. Thanks a lot sir, I’ll add it on the list this week.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Wild roads but beautiful scenery!!
Hi Lori,
Beautiful scenery indeed. Be careful though. :)
You should try driving in Dallas sometime. Every road we have should be considered one of the most dangerous in the world. The roads are flat and straight, but the drivers around you are morons.
Hi Scott, good day!
I really wished i could go to the land of the free and the home of the brave. :)
how great it is to know that there are really a lot of wonders in this world.. what i mean hr is how could this people manage to create and develop those dangerous things out of their concern about the consequences that would happen around,, i appreciate you people,, especially GARY THOMAS.. it is really true that how would you be brave and strong enough to take courage if you will not try it.
I agree. Sir Gary Thomas is remarkable. I mean, it’s an amazing feeling being one of the builders of that road.
What About the Road going to San Carlos City in Neg. Occ.???? You should post it also……..Musta Na Da
Hey KP, hehe…I don’t have the image for the road that you’re talking about. If i do, then i’ll post it here.
I don’t want to be driving over there. Scary…
Me too, i think the scariest is the death road in bolivia, whew! We’re fortunate we are not living in those areas where you have to pass any of those roads. lol
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