The world is full of roads that test the courage, skill, and sheer luck of those who dare to drive them. These aren’t just scenic routes with a few hairpin turns – these are paths where one mistake could mean the difference between life and death. Whether it’s sheer cliffside drops, extreme weather, or even lurking criminals, these roads are not for the faint of heart.
Would you take the risk? Here are ten of the most dangerous roads on the planet in 2025.
1. Death Road, Bolivia – The Most Infamous Road in the World
If there’s one road that lives up to its terrifying nickname, it’s Bolivia’s Death Road (Camino de la Muerte). This narrow dirt path, barely three meters wide, clings to the cliffs of the Yungas region with sheer drops of over 600 meters on one side. Until a safer bypass was built in 2006, this was the only connection between La Paz and the Amazon basin, and it claimed hundreds of lives annually.
Despite the obvious danger, the road remains in use, not just by locals but by thrill-seeking cyclists looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush. Thick fog, unpredictable rain, and waterfalls cascading onto the road only add to the peril. Guardrails? Forget about it. If you’re going to drive here, you better have nerves of steel.
2. James Dalton Highway, Alaska – America’s Icy Gauntlet
Alaska’s James Dalton Highway is a desolate, icy nightmare that stretches 666 kilometers from Fairbanks to the oil fields of the Arctic Ocean. It’s one of the most isolated roads in the world, with only three fuel stops and almost no cell service along the way.
Winter temperatures drop to -50°C, turning the gravel road into an ice rink, while summer rains transform it into an impassable mud pit. Truckers – who make up the vast majority of its traffic – have their own golden rule: Make way for the big rigs, because they won’t stop for you. With no hospitals, emergency services, or places to find shelter for hundreds of miles, breaking down here could be a death sentence.
3. BR-116, Brazil – The Road of Bandits and Death
Known as “Rodovia da Morte” (The Highway of Death), Brazil’s BR-116 is one of the longest and deadliest highways in South America. Unlike other dangerous roads, it’s not high cliffs or poor road conditions that make this highway terrifying – it’s the criminal activity that plagues its most remote sections.
Armed gangs frequently set up roadblocks at night, targeting truckers, tourists, and even buses. Hijackings, robberies, and even kidnappings are regular occurrences. As if that wasn’t enough, blind turns, steep slopes, and torrential rain make driving conditions dangerous even without the threat of crime. Many locals prefer to avoid the highway altogether once the sun goes down.
4. Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand – The Road Where Insurance Won’t Cover You
Carved into the sheer cliffs of Skippers Canyon, this 22-kilometer road in New Zealand is so dangerous that most rental car companies refuse to insure vehicles that drive on it. With no guardrails, unpaved surfaces, and one-way sections where reversing for kilometers is the only way to pass, Skippers Road is as treacherous as it is breathtaking.
Originally built during the gold rush in the late 19th century, it remains a popular – if terrifying – route for adventure-seekers. Heavy rains can wash out sections of the road without warning, and landslides are common. If you find yourself on this road, just hope you don’t meet another vehicle coming the other way.
5. Zoji La Pass, India – A Himalayan Road of Pure Terror
Nestled in the Himalayas, the Zoji La Pass is one of the highest and most treacherous roads in the world. Sitting at 3,528 meters above sea level, it’s a lifeline connecting Srinagar and Ladakh, but driving here feels more like a battle with nature.
Heavy snowfall can completely block the pass for months, while landslides, rockfalls, and thick fog make every journey a gamble. During monsoon season, mudslides turn the road into a slushy death trap, and its unprotected edges mean that a single slip could send you plunging into a ravine. If you’re prone to altitude sickness, this road will test both your endurance and your sanity.
6. The Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway – A Battle Against the Elements
On a calm day, Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road looks like something out of a postcard, with its stunning bridges arching over small islands. But when a storm rolls in, it transforms into a brutal battlefield between drivers and the sea.
Waves from the North Atlantic crash violently against the road, sometimes even washing over moving cars. High winds and icy conditions in the winter add another layer of danger. Despite this, the road remains a major attraction for tourists looking for a thrilling drive—just make sure your wipers are working, and maybe pack a life jacket.
7. The Road of Bones, Russia – A Highway Built on Human Remains
The Kolyma Highway, also known as the Road of Bones, is a 1,262-kilometer stretch of road in Siberia that has one of the most haunting histories of any road in the world. Built by prisoners of Stalin’s gulags in the 1930s, thousands died constructing it, and their bodies were buried beneath the road itself.
This road is a frozen wasteland for most of the year, with temperatures plummeting to -60°C in winter. Breaking down here is almost always fatal, as there are few places to seek shelter. In summer, the road turns to thick mud, swallowing vehicles whole. It’s an unrelenting, merciless highway that few dare to cross unprepared.
8. Tianmen Mountain Road, China – 99 Bends of Terror
China’s Tianmen Mountain Road, also called Tongtian Avenue, is an 11-kilometer route featuring a staggering 99 hairpin turns up a sheer mountainside. The road climbs from 200 meters to 1,300 meters in just a short stretch, meaning drivers must constantly battle extreme elevation changes, low visibility, and tight corners with nothing but small guardrails standing between them and a massive drop.
The road’s name, which translates to “Road to Heaven”, could be interpreted in more ways than one – some make it to the top, and others… don’t.
9. Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China – A Landslide Nightmare
Spanning 2,142 kilometers, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is a road that combines altitude sickness, treacherous landslides, and unpredictable weather to create one of the most dangerous routes in Asia. Frequent rockfalls and mudslides block the road, and steep cliffs mean that one mistake could send a vehicle tumbling down thousands of meters.
The road also crosses several of the world’s highest mountain passes, where altitude sickness can hit even the most experienced travelers. The scenery is breathtaking, but so is the risk.
10. Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan – Beauty and Death Combined
Winding through the marble cliffs of Taiwan’s Taroko Gorge, this 118-kilometer road is both breathtaking and terrifying. While its paved surface and modern construction might make it seem safer than other roads on this list, don’t be fooled – landslides, earthquakes, and typhoons frequently strike this region, making the road highly unpredictable.
Narrow single-lane tunnels, blind corners, and sheer drops make every turn a gamble, especially when massive tour buses squeeze their way through. If there’s one road where patience, caution, and luck all come into play, this is it.
Would You Take the Wheel?
These roads are tests of endurance, skill, and sheer nerve. From the icy desolation of Alaska’s Dalton Highway to the sheer cliffs of Bolivia’s Death Road, each route presents a unique set of deadly challenges. Whether it’s unpredictable weather, reckless drivers, or even armed criminals, survival isn’t guaranteed.
Yet, despite the risks, thousands of people take on these perilous paths every year, driven by necessity, adventure, or the thrill of danger. Would you be brave enough to navigate one of these roads, or would you rather admire them from a safe distance? Either way, one thing is clear – some roads are best left to those who truly have no fear.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.