Technical Subset
High Exposure HikesE3 — E5 Classification
"A curated index of world-class hiking routes characterized by severe altitude exposure, sustained steep drop-offs, and critical technical risk. Psychological resilience is mandatory. Not suitable for hikers with vertigo or fear of heights."
47 Routes Identified
Unforgiving TerrainHuemul Circuit
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Extreme79/100
DIST // KM
6540 MI
GAIN // M
2,8009,186 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,5505,085 FT
Nahuel Huapi Traverse (4 Refugios)
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition97/100
DIST // KM
4528 MI
GAIN // M
3,40011,155 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,0506,726 FT
Seefelder Spitze — The Karwendel Crown
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Hard56/100
DIST // KM
96 MI
GAIN // M
6802,231 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,2217,287 FT
Larapinta Trail
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Extreme87/100
DIST // KM
223139 MI
GAIN // M
7,50024,606 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,3804,528 FT
Pedra da Gávea
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Hard57/100
DIST // KM
53 MI
GAIN // M
8002,625 FT
ELEV // MAX
8442,769 FT
Travessia Petrópolis-Teresópolis (Serra dos Órgãos NP)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe74/100
DIST // KM
3019 MI
GAIN // M
1,2003,937 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,2637,425 FT
Great Divide Trail (GDT)
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Remote Expedition-Level Trek90/100
DIST // KM
1130702 MI
GAIN // M
44,000144,357 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,5908,497 FT
Alpine Pass Route (Via Alpina Route 1)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme78/100
DIST // KM
390242 MI
GAIN // M
24,00078,740 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,7789,114 FT
Hardergrat — Interlaken to Brienzer Rothorn
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition100/100
DIST // KM
2314 MI
GAIN // M
2,4197,936 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,3517,713 FT
Mount Huashan (The Five Peaks)
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Hard47/100
DIST // KM
127 MI
GAIN // M
1,7005,577 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,1547,067 FT
Camiño dos Faros — The Lighthouse Way
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme87/100
DIST // KM
200124 MI
GAIN // M
4,00013,123 FT
ELEV // MAX
3111,020 FT
Pico Aneto — The Monarch of the Pyrenees
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition90/100
DIST // KM
149 MI
GAIN // M
1,5004,921 FT
ELEV // MAX
3,40411,168 FT
Le GR20
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition100/100
DIST // KM
180112 MI
GAIN // M
12,00039,370 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,6048,543 FT
Watkins Mountains (Gunnbjørn Fjeld)
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition100/100
DIST // KM
4025 MI
GAIN // M
1,5004,921 FT
ELEV // MAX
3,69412,119 FT
Via Ferrata Bocchette Centrali
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition90/100
DIST // KM
1811 MI
GAIN // M
1,1003,609 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,7909,154 FT
Selvaggio Blu
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Extreme81/100
DIST // KM
4025 MI
GAIN // M
4,00013,123 FT
ELEV // MAX
7702,526 FT
Japan North Alps Traverse (北アルプス縦走)
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition97/100
DIST // KM
3522 MI
GAIN // M
4,50014,764 FT
ELEV // MAX
3,19010,466 FT
Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre)
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition94/100
DIST // KM
6037 MI
GAIN // M
1,8005,906 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,4007,874 FT
Mount Kinabalu Summit Climb
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe67/100
DIST // KM
1711 MI
GAIN // M
2,3007,546 FT
ELEV // MAX
4,09513,435 FT
Besseggen Ridge
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe74/100
DIST // KM
149 MI
GAIN // M
1,1003,609 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,7435,719 FT
Trolltunga
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme79/100
DIST // KM
2817 MI
GAIN // M
8002,625 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,1003,609 FT
Inner Dolpo (Shey Phoksundo)
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition95/100
DIST // KM
200124 MI
GAIN // M
6,00019,685 FT
ELEV // MAX
5,35017,552 FT
Kepler Track
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe67/100
DIST // KM
6037 MI
GAIN // M
2,2007,218 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,4724,829 FT
Alpamayo Circuit
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition100/100
DIST // KM
13081 MI
GAIN // M
7,20023,622 FT
ELEV // MAX
4,85015,912 FT
Colca Canyon (Cabanaconde to Sangalle)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme76/100
DIST // KM
2012 MI
GAIN // M
1,2003,937 FT
ELEV // MAX
3,28010,761 FT
Huayhuash Circuit
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition100/100
DIST // KM
13081 MI
GAIN // M
8,50027,887 FT
ELEV // MAX
5,05016,568 FT
Skierfe (Sarek)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Expedition96/100
DIST // KM
1610 MI
GAIN // M
7702,526 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,1793,868 FT
Northern Drakensberg Amphitheatre (Tugela Falls)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe62/100
DIST // KM
127 MI
GAIN // M
6001,969 FT
ELEV // MAX
3,0009,843 FT
The Hoerikwaggo Trail
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe62/100
DIST // KM
7547 MI
GAIN // M
2,8009,186 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,0863,563 FT
Table Mountain (India Venster & Platteklip)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Hard53/100
DIST // KM
32 MI
GAIN // M
8002,625 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,0863,563 FT
Carian Trail (Karia Yolu)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme80/100
DIST // KM
800497 MI
GAIN // M
32,000104,987 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,3734,505 FT
Lycian Way (Likya Yolu)
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme84/100
DIST // KM
540336 MI
GAIN // M
23,00075,459 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,8155,955 FT
The Jurassic Coast Path
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme75/100
DIST // KM
15395 MI
GAIN // M
4,20013,780 FT
ELEV // MAX
191627 FT
The Pennine Way
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Expedition100/100
DIST // KM
435270 MI
GAIN // M
12,00039,370 FT
ELEV // MAX
8932,930 FT
Porthcurno to Land's End
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Hard49/100
DIST // KM
106 MI
GAIN // M
4111,348 FT
ELEV // MAX
80262 FT
Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme78/100
DIST // KM
1711 MI
GAIN // M
1,3524,436 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,3454,413 FT
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme84/100
DIST // KM
299186 MI
GAIN // M
11,00036,089 FT
ELEV // MAX
175574 FT
The Pen y Fan Horseshoe
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe63/100
DIST // KM
1610 MI
GAIN // M
8202,690 FT
ELEV // MAX
8862,907 FT
Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Hard42/100
DIST // KM
1711 MI
GAIN // M
8502,789 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,0106,594 FT
Angels Landing
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Hard47/100
DIST // KM
85 MI
GAIN // M
4531,486 FT
ELEV // MAX
1,7655,791 FT
Half Dome
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Severe74/100
DIST // KM
2616 MI
GAIN // M
1,4604,790 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,6908,825 FT
The Highline Trail
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Hard51/100
DIST // KM
1811 MI
GAIN // M
5801,903 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,2207,283 FT
The Kalalau Trail
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Extreme79/100
DIST // KM
3522 MI
GAIN // M
1,5004,921 FT
ELEV // MAX
240787 FT
Skyline Trail
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Hard50/100
DIST // KM
85 MI
GAIN // M
5201,706 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,0706,791 FT
South Kaibab Trail
LETHAL // NO-MARGIN
Hard51/100
DIST // KM
2214 MI
GAIN // M
1,4504,757 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,2007,218 FT
Uncompahgre Peak
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Extreme86/100
DIST // KM
127 MI
GAIN // M
8902,920 FT
ELEV // MAX
4,36114,308 FT
Mount Roraima Trek
SERIOUS // HIGH CONSEQUENCE
Severe71/100
DIST // KM
5635 MI
GAIN // M
1,8005,906 FT
ELEV // MAX
2,8109,219 FT