Roads to avoid if you're scared of heights?
January 24, 2018 9:15 AM Subscribe
After reading about Highway 550 in Colorado on the blue and knowing there's at least one Hwy in BC (Hwy 12 between Lillooet and Boston Bar) that I will never, ever ever be on again, I want to build a list of highways (or sections of highways) that I, as a person with a significant fear of heights, should never drive.
Obviously, these types of roads, where there are huge drop-offs off the shoulder of the road, are much more common in mountainous areas. Roads with a decent width, decent shoulders and guard rails are better than those without, but in general if i'm on the outside lane and I can look straight down to my possible death i'm at risk for an anxiety or panic attack. (Once I literally forced my friends to stop and let me walk a highway section so I could hug the mountain and get as far away from the edge as possible, which was obviously not an ideal situation.) As I plan for my hypothetical road trips across the country, I'd like to be aware of and hence avoid these sections of roads.
If a list or map of these types of roads exists, that would be amazing. (My google-fu is failing me). If not, if you know of roads or sections (in USA or Canada) that i should avoid, I'd really appreciate hearing about them and I'll start building that list. It probably makes sense to limit the scope to named, paved highways people are likely to accidentally stumble across (as opposed to random local roads, etc) but its not totally necessary. Thanks in advance!
Obviously, these types of roads, where there are huge drop-offs off the shoulder of the road, are much more common in mountainous areas. Roads with a decent width, decent shoulders and guard rails are better than those without, but in general if i'm on the outside lane and I can look straight down to my possible death i'm at risk for an anxiety or panic attack. (Once I literally forced my friends to stop and let me walk a highway section so I could hug the mountain and get as far away from the edge as possible, which was obviously not an ideal situation.) As I plan for my hypothetical road trips across the country, I'd like to be aware of and hence avoid these sections of roads.
If a list or map of these types of roads exists, that would be amazing. (My google-fu is failing me). If not, if you know of roads or sections (in USA or Canada) that i should avoid, I'd really appreciate hearing about them and I'll start building that list. It probably makes sense to limit the scope to named, paved highways people are likely to accidentally stumble across (as opposed to random local roads, etc) but its not totally necessary. Thanks in advance!
Best answer: I went to look for the Moki Dugway in southeastern Utah. I usually have absolutely no fear of heights, but driving it at night was terrifying.
And I found it on the aptly named dangerousroads site, which includes a global map.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:32 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
And I found it on the aptly named dangerousroads site, which includes a global map.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:32 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Avoid hwy 1 through Stinson Beach, CA
posted by freezer cake at 9:44 AM on January 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by freezer cake at 9:44 AM on January 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Michigan's Mackinac Bridge
And the descent into Duluth, while vertiginous (and with an excellent view), doesn't IIRC actually allow you to "look straight down to your possible death," though I may be mistaken because I'm usually the driver for that part. (In winter, I do tend to go about five under the speed limit there.) In any case, there's a mellow and flat "back way" into Duluth (Midway; exit 246).
The bridges across the river from Duluth to Superior, WI, might well be too much. Blatnik (I-535) is higher and narrower, or at least narrower-seeming, but Bong (US-2) is longer.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 9:53 AM on January 24, 2018
And the descent into Duluth, while vertiginous (and with an excellent view), doesn't IIRC actually allow you to "look straight down to your possible death," though I may be mistaken because I'm usually the driver for that part. (In winter, I do tend to go about five under the speed limit there.) In any case, there's a mellow and flat "back way" into Duluth (Midway; exit 246).
The bridges across the river from Duluth to Superior, WI, might well be too much. Blatnik (I-535) is higher and narrower, or at least narrower-seeming, but Bong (US-2) is longer.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 9:53 AM on January 24, 2018
Slumgullion Pass, aka CO 149. 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona, AZ, shudder. Route 18 to Big Bear Lake from Lucerne Valley, CA. And if you do that by mistake you might as well give up and live in Big Bear Lake forever, because all the roads leaving it are just as terrifying. OTOH it takes a whole lot more to scare me now.
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:56 AM on January 24, 2018
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:56 AM on January 24, 2018
Utah's got a lot of these roads. I usually seek them out. The road to Mineral Bottom and The White Rim stick out.
posted by trbrts at 9:56 AM on January 24, 2018
posted by trbrts at 9:56 AM on January 24, 2018
I am not afraid of heights, and love to drive, but the Chesapeake Bay Bridge makes me break out in a sweat. We use it every summer (twice) and I have a whole series of superstitions at this point.
Because of its height, the narrowness of the spans (there are no hard shoulders), the low guardrails, and the frequency of high winds, it is known as one of the scariest bridges in the world...
posted by librarianamy at 9:57 AM on January 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Because of its height, the narrowness of the spans (there are no hard shoulders), the low guardrails, and the frequency of high winds, it is known as one of the scariest bridges in the world...
posted by librarianamy at 9:57 AM on January 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
In Colorado, draw a north/south line at Denver and another in Grand Junction. Any road between those two lines will be unacceptable. I could point out the specific areas, but there's no point. All of them will, at some point, have to climb a pass or navigate a canyon. Like, I-70 which has the run between Idaho Springs and Eisenhower tunnel, then Vail Pass, and Glenwood Canyon - where the road is actually cantilevered onto the side of the a cliff. Even the sleepy Hwy50 south of Grand Junction has a shelf road portion just north of Delta where it brushes against the east side of the Gunnison river canyon.
I-70 through Utah isn't bad - flat and wide - but you might consider the San Rafael Swell portion to be thrilling. You'll want to avoid any road between I70 and the AZ border though. Many of them look like this.
My wife used to be frightened of those sections and has gotten a lot more confident since we've lived here. I say this in kindness - driving these roads is no different than driving on any other road. It's just a road on a hill. You could maybe see about taking some offroading classes that might help you gain confidence - my wife found the (women only) class at Overland Expo very helpful.
And if you want to know the road I find the scariest - it's AZ Hwy 160 between Shiprock and Tuba City. It's a boring, straight stretch of 2 lane across the desert. But it's travelled by semis and RVs who all underestimate how much room they have to pass and how long it will take to do it. This is the only road I've driven where I have been terrified. I avoid it if I can.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:59 AM on January 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I-70 through Utah isn't bad - flat and wide - but you might consider the San Rafael Swell portion to be thrilling. You'll want to avoid any road between I70 and the AZ border though. Many of them look like this.
My wife used to be frightened of those sections and has gotten a lot more confident since we've lived here. I say this in kindness - driving these roads is no different than driving on any other road. It's just a road on a hill. You could maybe see about taking some offroading classes that might help you gain confidence - my wife found the (women only) class at Overland Expo very helpful.
And if you want to know the road I find the scariest - it's AZ Hwy 160 between Shiprock and Tuba City. It's a boring, straight stretch of 2 lane across the desert. But it's travelled by semis and RVs who all underestimate how much room they have to pass and how long it will take to do it. This is the only road I've driven where I have been terrified. I avoid it if I can.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:59 AM on January 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm also afraid of heights, and I didn't enjoy the drive on the Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Montana.
and cross Whiteswan/Lussier hot springs off any British Columbia travel list because Whiteswan Lake Forest Service Road is friggin terrifying.
posted by euphoria066 at 10:07 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
and cross Whiteswan/Lussier hot springs off any British Columbia travel list because Whiteswan Lake Forest Service Road is friggin terrifying.
posted by euphoria066 at 10:07 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I also came in here to name the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:10 AM on January 24, 2018
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:10 AM on January 24, 2018
The Beartooth Highway in Wyoming/Montana (especially coming down from Beartooth Pass) is beautiful and one of the most terrifying places I've ever driven.
posted by belladonna at 10:12 AM on January 24, 2018
posted by belladonna at 10:12 AM on January 24, 2018
I remember, many years ago, being a bit squicked out when riding with my grandparents on the Crowsnest Highway in BC. We were between the BC/Alberta border and Creston, and many of the drops off the highway looked like the previously-posted photos of BC roads.
posted by stannate at 10:26 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by stannate at 10:26 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Linn Cove Viaduct or basically the entirety of the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC.
posted by greta simone at 10:40 AM on January 24, 2018
posted by greta simone at 10:40 AM on January 24, 2018
The Hawk’s Nest just north of Port Jervis NY (97). It’s a short section that is scary and curvy (and really just if your south bound and on the water rather than rock side). Not sure how to correctly link but this I to google maps Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, 585 NY-97, Sparrow Bush, NY 12780
posted by raccoon409 at 10:57 AM on January 24, 2018
posted by raccoon409 at 10:57 AM on January 24, 2018
Tioga Pass from Yosemite to Mono Lake.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge.
posted by humboldt32 at 11:08 AM on January 24, 2018
The Astoria-Megler Bridge.
posted by humboldt32 at 11:08 AM on January 24, 2018
The Road to Hana, on Maui. I have never been more scared while driving.
posted by minsies at 11:17 AM on January 24, 2018
posted by minsies at 11:17 AM on January 24, 2018
I was in Dallas, Texas, last month and was following the navigation system (which made the trip from Farmers Branch to DFW airport much more convoluted than necessary) and there is a new freeway with 75+ mph speed limit and a ramp from one interstate to another (turning right) that had no guardrails, was steep in height and sharp in turning radius, and I would not go faster than 50mph over it. I've tried to find that precise spot on Google maps, but there just is no logical route from what the navigational system told me, so *shruggo*.
TLDR: driving in Dallas is not for the faint of heart.
posted by jillithd at 11:32 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
TLDR: driving in Dallas is not for the faint of heart.
posted by jillithd at 11:32 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
There is an app/book: The Mountain Directory. It’s for truckers and RVers, but it should be helpful.
posted by Vaike at 11:33 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Vaike at 11:33 AM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, When I plan out my route, I ‘drive’ it in google maps’ street view. That way I can see if it is going to terrify me in advance.
posted by Vaike at 11:36 AM on January 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Vaike at 11:36 AM on January 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Don't know if you'd go out this way, but my mom has similar anxieties and haaaaates Highway 74 in California (from Palm Desert through to Hemet, or via 243 to Banning).
posted by goodbyewaffles at 12:07 PM on January 24, 2018
posted by goodbyewaffles at 12:07 PM on January 24, 2018
I was a little disappointed by the Road to Hana on Maui, tbh. My guidebook hyped it up but it really just reminded me of a fun, windy highway close to where I live, but with different vegetation. I found the West Mountains hwy much more challenging - northwest of Kahului.
And to throw in another BC hwy, there's the 20/"Bella Coola Road":
And to throw in another BC hwy, there's the 20/"Bella Coola Road":
The road descends 43 km (27 mi) of steep, narrow road with sharp hairpin turns and two major switchbacks to the Bella Coola Valley. The descent includes a 9 km (5.6 mi) section with grades of up to 18% (about 1 in 6). Tourists who have driven to Bella Coola from Williams Lake have been known to refuse to drive back and have had to be taken out by boat or float plane.posted by mannequito at 12:36 PM on January 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
If you're scared of heights, you probably won't be visiting Glacier Point in Yosemite anyway, but if it's just a car thing, don't drive up there (you can get up there via a pretty strenuous hiking trail instead, if that's your thing). There is a hairpin turn near the top that is particularly harrowing -- you come out of the trees, and you're on right on the edge of the valley with an amazing view of Half Dome. Easily the most terrified I have ever been as a passenger.
(Google Street View for the curious, but not for the OP!
posted by natabat at 12:40 PM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
(Google Street View for the curious, but not for the OP!
posted by natabat at 12:40 PM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I did not love the few times I had to drive over the Skyway Bridge, Tampa, Florida. Especially at night.
posted by Glinn at 2:16 PM on January 24, 2018
posted by Glinn at 2:16 PM on January 24, 2018
Hawaii state road 550 in Kauai up to the Waimea canyon lookout is a terrifying 18 miles ascending over 2000 feet of twists and turns without guardrails between the road and the sheer drops on both sides.
posted by dreaming in stereo at 3:25 PM on January 24, 2018
posted by dreaming in stereo at 3:25 PM on January 24, 2018
I was not at all comfortable when I went over the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge.
posted by forthright at 6:28 PM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by forthright at 6:28 PM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am a wimp with heights, so these are probably not in the top 10 nationally.
But kind of heartened that the two times I freaked myself out on what I thought would be pleasant legs of my vacation have been mentioned: Highway 1 (along the coast in Marin, California) and Highway 340 on Maui (west of Kahului). I think 340 was objectively worse but I had the pleasure of really thick fog on part of my Highway 1 jaunt, so every time I "favored the mountain" I was convinced I was going to die in a head on collision.
It's really hard for me to calibrate warnings when I plan my trip. I am fine unless the visceral terror gets triggered. I go from "drive somewhat slowly because the road is windy" to "white knuckle terror." There's nothing in between.
posted by mark k at 9:16 PM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
But kind of heartened that the two times I freaked myself out on what I thought would be pleasant legs of my vacation have been mentioned: Highway 1 (along the coast in Marin, California) and Highway 340 on Maui (west of Kahului). I think 340 was objectively worse but I had the pleasure of really thick fog on part of my Highway 1 jaunt, so every time I "favored the mountain" I was convinced I was going to die in a head on collision.
It's really hard for me to calibrate warnings when I plan my trip. I am fine unless the visceral terror gets triggered. I go from "drive somewhat slowly because the road is windy" to "white knuckle terror." There's nothing in between.
posted by mark k at 9:16 PM on January 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Exposing myself as a scaredy cat but I will never ride a bus in Northern India. I know two people who have died when their buses rolled off cliffs.
posted by pintapicasso at 1:26 AM on January 25, 2018
posted by pintapicasso at 1:26 AM on January 25, 2018
This blog may help: http://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa.html
posted by Weftage at 7:37 AM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Weftage at 7:37 AM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
The bridge between Hood River, OR and White Salmon, WA. Located on a very windy part of the Columbia River, this bridge is high and narrow, with steel grating and (what seemed to me) quite low railing. Not too long ago, I had to cross on an extremely rainy and blustery day, in a truck with less than ideal handling. Absolutely terrifying.
posted by medeine at 1:03 PM on January 25, 2018
posted by medeine at 1:03 PM on January 25, 2018
The stretch of Hwy 89 on the southwest side of Lake Tahoe between the Spring Creek area and Emerald Bay. There's one point where you're driving on the top of a ridge with very steep slopes on both sides heading down towards lakes. The views are amazing, but even as a passenger I have to close my eyes and put my head between my knees.
posted by not.so.hip at 12:54 PM on January 27, 2018
posted by not.so.hip at 12:54 PM on January 27, 2018
Skip the Teton Pass section of Highway 22 between Wilson, Wyoming and Driggs, Idaho.
posted by spindrifter at 10:49 AM on January 30, 2018
posted by spindrifter at 10:49 AM on January 30, 2018
In Colorado, draw a north/south line at Denver and another in Grand Junction. Any road between those two lines will be unacceptable. I could point out the specific areas, but there's no point. All of them will, at some point, have to climb a pass or navigate a canyon. Like, I-70 which has the run between Idaho Springs and Eisenhower tunnel, then Vail Pass, and Glenwood Canyon - where the road is actually cantilevered onto the side of the a cliff. Even the sleepy Hwy50 south of Grand Junction has a shelf road portion just north of Delta where it brushes against the east side of the Gunnison river canyon.
Exactly what I came to say. I'm not heights phobic, but I took the train from the Bay Area to Denver and some parts here - and further west near the Donner Pass, although not sure what the highway is, that gave me serious pause.
posted by TravellingCari at 11:21 AM on January 30, 2018
Exactly what I came to say. I'm not heights phobic, but I took the train from the Bay Area to Denver and some parts here - and further west near the Donner Pass, although not sure what the highway is, that gave me serious pause.
posted by TravellingCari at 11:21 AM on January 30, 2018
Oh also the roads through the canyons in Malibu. I don't know the road name, but it's near Pepperdine. Recent fires = sparse vegetation = way too easy to see the drop offs
posted by TravellingCari at 11:24 AM on January 30, 2018
posted by TravellingCari at 11:24 AM on January 30, 2018
Going-To-The-Sun road in NW Montana. I've been to most of the West ones mentioned here and they are incredibly safe compared to many around the world I've been.
posted by penguinkeys at 9:00 PM on January 30, 2018
posted by penguinkeys at 9:00 PM on January 30, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jillithd at 9:30 AM on January 24, 2018 [2 favorites]