High above the Guadahorce River in Spain is a tiny strip of a mountain trail named El Caminito del Rey ("The King's Little Path"), which stretches for two and a half miles through the El Chorro cliffs, over a straight drop of 350 feet.
Photo: Roberto Lumbreras via Flickr
That altitude, combined with the path's eroded and rapidly deteriorating condition, makes it treacherous enough, but curious trekkers should know that this passage is also only three feet wide, making it the deadliest hiking trail in the world... and there's a body count to prove it.
Photo: Gabirulo via Flickr
Extreme travel site Thrillist examined the history of the trail, which dates back 109 years, when it was used to transport materials up and down the cliffs. Since it was never built for hikers, there are no real safety precautions between climbers and the sheer drop below. The most recent casualties on the trail were in 2000, when two people slipped and fell to their deaths.
Photo: Thrillist.com
Thrillist also reports that a multi-million-dollar renovation is being planned for the trail, including a wood-and-glass skywalk over the breathtaking Gaitanes Gorge (shown above), so if risking El Caminito del Rey is on your bucket list (and if you're not careful, it might be the last thing on that list), you might want to make your flight reservations soon.
We've found many more dangerous destinations like this one, including this Alpine cottage poised over a 13,000-foot drop!