1. Royal Gorge Bridge, Colorado
You don’t need to travel out of the country to drive across this jaw-dropping suspension bridge wedged between the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas.
Built in less than seven months in 1929 by a group of about 80 laborers for just $350,000, the Royal Gorge Bridge sits 956 feet above the Arkansas River and spans 1,270 feet across. If you’re not afraid of heights, take a peek below to catch a glimpse of the whitewater rafters traversing the river.
Luckily for tourists, America’s highest suspension bridge is quite safe — the bridge was designed to hold up to 2,000,000 pounds and was refurbished in 1982 with new anchor cables and a wind cable system that allows it to withstand up to 125 miles per hour winds.
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Explore better rates2. Canopy Walk, Ghana
This rickety series of rope bridges strung throughout the lush, leafy trees in Kakum National Park was opened on Earth Day in 1995.
They were reportedly constructed to draw tourists, who could experience the beauty of the rainforest from the elevated trail — the park provides a home to hundreds of species of birds and butterflies as well as mammals like elephants, leopards and primates.
The seven bridges consist of over 1,000 feet of walkway and hang beyond 130 feet away from the forest floor. But don’t worry about missing a step and plunging off the trail. The Canopy Walk is made out of wire rope, aluminum and wooden planks, and includes safety netting along the sides.
3. Kuandinsky Bridge, Russia
We wouldn’t recommend you take a drive across this battered 6-foot-wide bridge that has no railings or safety features in the Trans-Baikal Region.
It’s even worse when it snows — the structure’s covered in wooden planks, which can get incredibly slippery — and strong winds could send daredevil drivers plummeting into the icy river below.
The 1,870-foot-long bridge — which was originally erected as part of a train crossing — hasn’t been repaired in over three decades. Although there’s a much safer, sturdier bridge built alongside it, the Kuandinsky Bridge was never actually torn down, leaving thrill seekers free to make the dangerous trip across.
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Try Now4. Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia
This steel skybridge that lets tourists stroll among the skies winds around forested mountain peaks and stretches 2,000 feet above sea level.
The 400-foot-long bridge is located at the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang mountain in Malaysia and was constructed in 2005. Helicopters were needed to lift the bridge’s pieces to the top of the mountain in order to build it. It closed in 2012 for repairs, but it was reopened in 2015.
Visitors must hike to the summit before taking the cable cars to reach the foot of the bridge. It’s worth it for the gorgeous views of the Andaman sea and its islands.
5. Titlis Cliff Walk, Switzerland
Grab your coats (and your courage) before heading to the Swiss Alps to promenade down this suspension bridge that’s poised 1,500 feet above a glacier and 9,000 feet above sea level.
This 330-foot bridge cost $1.6 million and took over five months to build before it officially opened to the public in 2012 — during a snowstorm that reduced visibility to just a few feet.
It was constructed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of a cableway which joined the towns of Engelberg and Gerschnialp, according to Fox News. It is believed to be the highest suspension bridge in Europe.
6. Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, China
What’s more terrifying than a bridge that was built 1,000 feet off the ground? Try one with glass panels that allow you to see the ground directly under your feet.
BBC News reported in 2019 that there are around 2,300 glass bridges in China, and the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge in Hunan, which was touted as the highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge when it opened in 2016, may have begun all the hype.
A similar bridge at Piyan Mountain in Longjing City made headlines in May after strong winds shifted and shattered the glass panes and left one tourist clinging to the edge before he was rescued by police, firefighters and forestry personnel.
7. Hussaini Hanging Bridge, Pakistan
This precarious bridge made up of thin ropes and old planks in northern Pakistan’s Hunza region is considered one of the most dangerous bridges in the world.
Until 1979, when the Karakoram Highway was completed, locals in the Gilgit-Baltistan region were mostly barred from the rest of Pakistan. Rickety plank bridges, such as the Hussaini Hanging Bridge, provided access to more of the country.
Strong winds and missing planks can make the river crossing rather treacherous. Travel site Atlas Obscura reports that it may have even been washed away at some point by a 2011 monsoon storm.
8. Eshima Ohashi Bridge, Japan
Japan’s “rollercoaster bridge” links the cities of Matsue and Sakaiminato with a steep slope and sudden drop-off that makes it appear as though the bridge leads straight into the skies.
The Eshima Ohashi Bridge bridge was constructed between 1997 to 2004 and is tall enough to allow ships to pass in between both inclines. It garnered attention in a TV commercial for car brand Daihatsu in 2015, which used an angle that apparently exaggerated the steepness of the slope.
The bridge is nearly a mile long and is considered the largest rigid frame bridge in Japan and the third largest in the world.
9. Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Maryland
Visitors are willing to fork over $25 to get someone else to drive them across this bridge — one of America’s scariest due to its height above the water and low railings that give you a clear view of Chesapeake Bay on either side.
Some drivers have even experienced panic attacks while attempting to make the four-mile crossing on their own.
At its tallest point, the bridge stands 186 feet tall and there’s almost no room for a spooked motorist to pull over to the side.
10. Trift Bridge, Switzerland
This modern footbridge suspended among the Swiss Alps over the Triftsee Lake, near Gadmen, Switzerland, spans over 550 feet and stands 328 feet tall.
It’s modelled after Nepalese high wire bridges and made out of thick steel cables and bolted wooden planks.
Trift Bridge was first built in 2004 before being replaced in 2009 with a sturdier model. It was then opened to the public. You’ll need to take a cable car trip to reach the site — a harrowing experience in and of itself due to the dizzying height.
11. Millau Viaduct Bridge, France
One of the world’s tallest bridges lies in southern France and it’s even bigger than the Eiffel Tower at its highest point.
The Millau Viaduct Bridge is perfectly safe for motorists, however. It’s reinforced by seven sturdy concrete piers, steel cable and pylons, and includes six lanes. Drivers can also stop to pull out their cameras and snap some photos of the stunning valley view.
The multi-span cable-stayed bridge began as a design contest to add another motorway to combat congestion between Spain and France in the Tarn valley, and was completed in 2004.
12. Iya Kazurabashi Bridge, Japan
This handwoven vine bridge that hovers 46 feet over steep gorges in Tokushima's Iya Valley might make you nervous. It was originally created to provide passage to inhabitants of the area, but could be cut down in case of enemy invasion.
In modern day times, however, slicing away at the vines isn’t quite as easy. The bridge is reinforced with hidden steel cables and gets rebuilt every three years so that it’s safe for public access.
The 148-foot-long Iya Kazurabashi Bridge is just one out of three preserved vine bridges in the secluded, mountainous valley. You can also check out the husband-and-wife Oku-Iya Kazurabashi bridges near Mount Tsurugi.
13. Ojuela Bridge, Mexico
This 1,000-foot-long suspension bridge connects an abandoned mine to a ghost town amidst jagged cliffs and a deep ravine — it was built in 1898 before being restored as a tourist attraction in 1991.
Designed by the same team behind the Brooklyn Bridge, the Ojuela Bridge, or Mapimi Bridge, was allegedly constructed to aid in moving ore to the nearby village. It’s just 2 feet wide and strengthened with steel cables.
You’ll have to make the daunting 4-mile drive up a narrow mountain slope to reach the bridge.
14. Sidu River Bridge, China
The Sidu River Bridge in China’s Hubei province stands a vertigo-inducing 1,600 feet above a canyon floor and connects two mountain peaks.
Builders had to use military rockets to launch cables across the gap, as it spans over 5,000 feet of valley terrain. VICE reports that this may have been the only time a rocket was used to transport pilot cables.
If you have a fear of heights, you might want to avoid the crossing, although it’s reportedly quite safe, supported by steel and concrete and two H-shaped towers at both ends.
15. Seven Mile Bridge, Florida
It says it all in the name. The longest bridge in the Florida Keys stretches over bright blue seas and connects Knight’s Key in Marathon to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys.
The two-lane causeway was constructed from 1978 to 1982 and is quite sturdy, although you wouldn’t want to risk the drive in the middle of a hurricane or storm. You can spot the original bridge alongside it, which was built in 1912 as a railroad bridge.
You might also recognize the Seven Mile Bridge from its appearances in action flicks like 2 Fast 2 Furious and Mission Impossible III.
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