99-Bend Road to Heaven

The country known for engineering marvels like the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie and the precarious wooden walkways of Hua Shan unsurprisingly also features some of the most dangerous roads in the world and world’s deadliest roads. Among these, the 99-Bend Road to Heaven in Tianmen Mountain National Park, central China, stands out dramatically.

99- Bend Road to Heaven

In inclement weather, when an earthquake is always a possibility, the route becomes extremely dangerous. The construction of this roadway in the sky has to have killed a lot of unfortunate people.

  • Location: China
  • Length: 6.8 miles (11 kilometers)
  • Maximum Elevation: 3,855 feet (1,175 meters)
  • Danger: Sheer drops, hairpin turns

Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads in the World (Deadliest Roads of 2024)

The most dangerous roads in the world, with very high places, super narrow paths, bad weather, and no safety rails. Yet, not every path is the same, with some, like the mountainous Death Road in Bolivia, the cliff-side Guoliang Tunnel Road in China, the often unpaved James Dalton Highway in Alaska, and the winding Stelvio Pass in Italy, significantly increasing the level of danger. These routes, characterized by their challenging terrain features such as mountains, cliffs, and unpaved surfaces, are among the Most Dangerous Roads in the World.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads in the World

  • 1. Stelvio Pass
  • 2. Ring Road (Kabul to Kandahar)
  • 3. Cotahuasi Canyon Road
  • 4. Taroko Gorge Road 
  • 5. Karakoram Highway 
  • 6. 99-Bend Road to Heaven 
  • 7. Sichuan-Tibet Highway
  • 8. Kolyma Highway and Lena Highway 
  • 9. Guoliang Tunnel Road 
  • 10. Skippers Canyon Road 

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List of Most Dangerous Roads in the World

Here are the Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads in the World, along with a short explanation of each, to help shed light on why they are in the list of top 10 dangerous roads....

1. Stelvio Pass

Driving a Ferrari or any high-performance sports car along Stelvio Pass, named by Top Gear magazine as the best driving road in the world, must be an incredible experience. Stelvio Pass is a favorite among racers in events like the Grand Tour and the Stelvio Marathon, making it one of the most dangerous roads in the world and part of the world’s deadliest roads due to its 75 hairpin turns....

2. Ring Road (Kabul to Kandahar)

The 1,400-mile-long Ring Road, connecting Kabul and Kandahar, stands out as a critical yet challenging part of Afghanistan’s highway network, making it one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Despite being one of the more passable sections, this stretch has suffered severe damage from IEDs and drone attacks over the 20 years of United States military presence. The damage not only highlights the road’s strategic importance but also its perilous conditions, contributing to its reputation among the world’s deadliest roads....

3. Cotahuasi Canyon Road

The Pan American Highway, close to Arequipa, is the starting point of the Cotahuasi Canyon Road. Traveling by bus might take anywhere from ten to twelve hours. After Chuquibamba, the route becomes unpaved and occasionally hazardous; thus, only cars with four-wheel drive should be utilized on this bumpy and terrifying section of the road. This challenging and frightening stretch is among the most dangerous roads in the world, offering spots for adventurous travelers to camp along its path, yet it remains relatively untouched by tourists....

4. Taroko Gorge Road

Taroko Gorge Road, much like the Guoliang Tunnel Road (number four on our list), is carved out of and through the mountains, making it one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Despite its daunting reputation as one of the world’s deadliest roads, this route attracts a lot of traffic due to the stunning beauty of its surroundings....

5. Karakoram Highway

Karakoram Highway is frequently regarded as the Eighth Wonder of the World due to its construction at a height of up to 15,000 feet above sea level and in extremely difficult circumstances. Despite not opening to the public until 1986, the road took its time getting from 1966 to 1979....

6. 99-Bend Road to Heaven

The country known for engineering marvels like the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie and the precarious wooden walkways of Hua Shan unsurprisingly also features some of the most dangerous roads in the world and world’s deadliest roads. Among these, the 99-Bend Road to Heaven in Tianmen Mountain National Park, central China, stands out dramatically....

7. Sichuan-Tibet Highway

Crossing the region known as Kham, the extensive Sichuan–Tibet Highway connects the Sichuan capital, Chengdu, with the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. This highway is among the most dangerous roads in the world and is considered as one of the world’s deadliest roads. It’s a dangerous journey filled with switchbacks winding through high mountains....

8. Kolyma Highway and Lena Highway

This Siberian route, known as the “Road of Bones” and stretching from Magadan to Yakutsk, winds through one of the world’s coldest locations. The R504 Kolyma Highway and the A360 Lena Highway, which meet here, are both considered among the most dangerous roads in the world and rank as some of the world’s deadliest roads. They’re vulnerable to extreme cold, making travel treacherous....

9. Guoliang Tunnel Road

Thirteen of the 300 villagers persuaded the Chinese authorities to forego the expense and hassle of constructing a road, so they dug a tunnel 0.8 miles long through the solid rock of a cliff. This precarious cliff in the Taihang Mountains of Henan Province was blown to bits by the local peasants who had resorted to explosives....

10. Skippers Canyon Road

The demand for more secure means of accessing Skippers Canyon grew in tandem with the area’s popularity among gold miners. (The road is still a deadly behemoth, killing hundreds of people each year, but it’s a huge improvement over the old track that the miners used.) Despite improvements, the road remains one of the most dangerous roads in the world and is considered one of the world’s deadliest roads, claiming hundreds of lives each year....

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads in the World are not just paths from one place to another; they are journeys that test the limits of travelers’ courage and vehicles’ endurance. From the icy stretches of Siberia’s “Road of Bones” to the dizzying heights of Bolivia’s “Death Road,” these routes demand respect and caution. The Most Dangerous Roads in the World share common threats like extreme weather, high altitudes, narrow paths, and the ever-present risk of accidents....

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