World's greatest driving roads

4 min read Original article ↗

In the US state of Colorado, there’s a special highway built in the late 1880s: the Million Dollar Highway. It's one of the nation’s most spectacular drives. You'll be on the "outside" for a while with a hell of a view to your right (let the passenger enjoy the view. You'll want to watch the road). Forget standard driving safety measures like guardrails and shoulders.

Carretera de los Yungas is probably the most famous road in the world. This gravel dirt track covers a 36.4km (22.61 miles) stretch between La Paz and Coroico, in the Yungas area of the Bolivian department of La Paz. Known globally as the "Death Road," it is a place where engineering limits meet raw human fear.

Tucked away on the southwest of New Zealand's South Island, Skippers Canyon Road is now one of New Zealand's better-known scenic roads and is unbelievably scary, being extremely narrow and difficult to maneuver. It’s a road so dangerous that your rental car insurance won’t be honored if you drive on it.

Fairy Meadows Road is a spectacular and perilous high mountain track located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. The unpaved road is completely unmaintained, with no guardrails to protect you, and it gets so narrow that near the end, you’ll have to cover the last section by walking or biking.

The D915 is one of the world's most challenging roads. Located between the Black Sea and the Northeast Anatolia regions of Turkey, it is known for its dangerous terrain. Only experienced drivers should attempt this route, as any mistake can have serious consequences.

Kahekili Highway is a strip of one-lane paved road framed by rock on one side and sheer cliff drops on the other, with a length of 21 miles, running from Kapalua to Wailuku. It’s a legendary road known for its snaking turns, narrow passages, and dangerous road conditions, though nowadays that last factor is gone, since the road was completely repaved not too long ago.

Shafer Trail Road, also known as Potash Road, is an iconic drive located on the east-central edge of Utah in the western United States. Extreme caution is required, especially in inclement weather and at night, for both vehicles and mountain bikes. At times, the road is so narrow that only one car can pass.

Tian Men Shan Big Gate Road is a winding drive with 99 turns located in Tianmen Mountain National Park of China. From its construction in 1998 to the 11-kilometer journey, this road offers a unique experience.

Part of Utah Route 261, Moki (or Mokee) Dugway is a stunning, graded dirt switchback road carved into the face of the cliff edge of Cedar Mesa. It consists of 3 miles of steep, unpaved but well-graded switchbacks (11% grade), winding 1,200 feet from Cedar Mesa to the valley floor near Valley of the Gods.

Oh-My-God Road is a very exciting drive located on the boundary between Clear Creek and Gilpin counties, in the U.S. state of Colorado. With room enough for barely two cars to pass slowly, this road will surely feel a little dangerous to you.

Embark on a journey through the Himalayas with the Leh-Manali Highway. This mountain road, known for its challenges, takes us through some of the world's highest passes. From its strategic importance to the day-to-day life around it, we'll explore the key aspects of this iconic route. Join us in unraveling the story of the Leh-Manali Highway—a testament to both engineering and the raw beauty of the landscapes it traverses.