10 Most Terrifying Foot Bridges

April 16, 2014 // By Lydia Schrandt

By Lydia Schrandt
April 16, 2014

Trift Bridge - Switzerland Photo courtesy of swiss-image.ch/Christof Sonderegger

Trift Bridge - Switzerland

Built in 2004, the Trift Suspension Bridge in Switzerland allows hikers to reach an alpine hut formerly made inaccessible by nearby glacial activity. Hanging 328 feet in the air, the bridge used to swing in the wind so violently that it required reinforcement with stabilizing cables and better handrails. If you can brave it, the views of the Trift glacier are killer.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge - Northern Ireland Photo courtesy of Zhi Yong Lee

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge - Northern Ireland

If you fall off the 65-foot-long Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, you'll fall some 100 feet into the jagged rocks below. Luckily, nobody's fallen off, and those who make it to the far side are rewarded with unobstructed views of the Irish coast.

Capilano Bridge - Vancouver Photo courtesy of GoToVan

Capilano Bridge - Vancouver

Thrill-seekers visiting Vancouver need only take the long walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge to get an adrenaline rush. Built in 1889, the bridge extends for 450 feet across the Capilano River some 230 feet below, all surrounded by evergreen forest.

Vine Bridges - Japan Photo courtesy of north-tail/iStock

Vine Bridges - Japan

Tucked within Iya Valley, one of Japan's three "hidden mountain ranges," lies a frightening foot bridge passing 148 feet over the Iya-gawa River. Suspended 46 feet above the water, the bridge is made from vines and requires rebuilding every three years.

Kakum National Park Canopy Walkway - Ghana Photo courtesy of Erik Cleves Kristensen

Kakum National Park Canopy Walkway - Ghana

If you want to experience Ghana's Kakum National Park from a monkey's perspective, take the thrilling walk along the park's series of seven canopy bridges, some hanging up to 130 feet above the ground. These very thin and very wobbly bridges extend for a total of 1,083 feet.

Langkawi SkyBridge - Malaysia Photo courtesy of Khalzuri Yazid

Langkawi SkyBridge - Malaysia

The Langkawi SkiBridge in Malaysia is a unique curved, cable-stayed bridge hanging out from the side of Machinchang Mountain and suspended by a single pylon. Measuring 410 feet across, it's one of the world's longest curved suspension bridges and one of Langkawi's top attractions ... as long as you're not afraid of heights.

Royal Gorge Bridge - Colorado Photo courtesy of SidewaysSarah

Royal Gorge Bridge - Colorado

Colorado's Royal Gorge Bridge, located about an hour outside of Colorado Springs, originally opened in 1929, and today, it's a tourist attraction where visitors can cross over the Arkansas River nearly 1,000 feet below. The park was forced to shut down after fire damage in June 2013, but the bridge was largely unharmed and the park is set to reopen in August 2014.

Ghasa Hanging Bridge - Nepal Photo courtesy of John Pavelka

Ghasa Hanging Bridge - Nepal

Most tourist bridges around the world are well-engineered and safe, but that's not always the case. The hanging bridge in Ghasa, Nepal was built to ease traffic congestion caused by locals herding their animals, so anyone brave enough to venture across will likely share the narrow path with some rather heavy livestock.

TITLIS Cliff Walk - Switzerland Photo courtesy of chweiz Tourismus/Beat M¾ller

TITLIS Cliff Walk - Switzerland

If you really want to get your pulse racing, step out onto the TITLIS Cliff Walk in the Swiss Alps. This pedestrian suspension bridge hangs 1,640 feet off the ground, making it the highest suspension bridge in Europe and one of the highest in the world. While the bridge is completely safe, it'll still take nerves of steel to conquer it.

Kawarau Bridge - New Zealand Photo courtesy of Rolf_52/iStock

Kawarau Bridge - New Zealand

At 141 feet tall, New Zealand's Kawarau Bridge might not be so scary for anyone who doesn't suffer from acrophobia ... at least not if you walk across. Most visitors, however, come to jump off, as this Queenstown bridge was the site of the first commercial bungee jump in the world.

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About Lydia Schrandt

Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production Manager for USA TODAY 10Best, has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has lived in Albuquerque, Galveston, Austin, Thailand, Korea, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and now Houston. When she's not at her computer in a cafe, she's out photographing the city, writing fiction or cheering on Barça.