The Most Dangerous Places To Go Camping In North America

North America, made up of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, boasts a huge and avid population of hikers, campers, and general lovers of the outdoors. There are incredible places to hike and camp throughout the region, though not all are as safe as others. Below is a list of some of the most dangerous places to camp in all of North America. Not all of these places are inherently perilous; the danger often comes from campers’ underestimating the sneaky and deadly forces of Mother Nature.

10. Maroon Bells, Colorado

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The first place on the list, beautiful Maroon Bells in the Elk Mountains of Colorado, has been tricking hikers and campers into letting down their defenses for as long as people visit there. The deceptively easy climbing can dupe even highly experienced hikers into carelessness. The rocky terrain is prone to shifting and breaking apart underfoot. The resulting injuries and deaths have led to the gruesome nickname of “The Deadly Bells.”

9. Huckleberry Mountain, Glacier National Park, Montana

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If you relish the idea of camping with bears, Huckleberry Mountain in Montana’s Glacier National Park might be the best place to visit. Experts have estimated that there is at least one bear within a mile radius of every single campsite on this mountain. The area is so widely known for bear encounters that several hiking trails are closed at different times of the year to minimize the risk. It is surely a beautiful place to hike and camp, but it might not be worth getting mauled to do it.

8. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, and Arizona

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A man-made reservoir spanning the Nevada and Arizona borders, Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a great place to go boating, hiking, and camping. Notably, there are no restrictions here on water sports. There is nothing inherently dangerous in choosing to recreate out here. Still, amazingly, in 1998, there was an average death rate of one person per week. Authorities credit these deaths due to carelessness, drug intoxication, and recklessness on behalf of Lake Mead’s visitors.

7. Santa Maria Mazatlan, Mexico

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There are many beautiful and safe campgrounds for RVs and car campers in Mexico. Still, if one wants to strike out into the wilderness and sleep under the stars, things can get a little dicier. Santa Maria Mazatlan, a beautiful village just outside of Mexico City, is one example of a place where campers are encouraged not to enter the woods at night. In the late/early hours between two and six in the morning, many campers have reported armed robberies.

6. Canyonlands National Park, Utah

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One of the appeals of camping out in Utah's high deserts is the uninhabited expanses of land for miles around. Therein also lies the danger when hiking or camping out there, especially alone or in pairs; visitors often fall prey to dehydration and shifting rocks. It can often take days for search and rescue parties to find and treat the victims. The iconic story of Aron Ralston, who amputated his own arm after it was pinned by a falling boulder, should serve as a warning.

5. Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

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California’s infamous Yosemite National Park draws thousands of visitors each year. The majority of experiences that people have here are positive and perfectly safe. Still, the 1,200-acre park is home to some extreme nature that needs to be treated with respect and caution. One of the most popular attractions, Half Dome, has suffered in recent years from overcrowding and a pervading sense of normalcy and safety. This has led to carelessness among some visitors, and the result is a rise in accidental deaths by falling.

4. Kalalau, Kauai Island, Hawaii

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The island chain state of Hawaii offers incredible scenery no matter where one steps foot. Still, some places are even more breathtaking than others. The jutting peaks of Kalalau on the island of Kauai offer fantastic scenic rewards for those who dare to risk the narrow, cliff-hugging paths. If campers make it safely up and down the cliffs, the sea itself still poses incredible dangers; more than one hundred people have drowned in these waters.

3. Mount Washington, New Hampshire

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For experienced hikers and campers, summiting Mount Washington in New Hampshire poses no real challenge. The danger here lies in the incredible wind speeds - the highest ever recorded on earth, at 231 miles per hour - and the fact that the temperature has never risen above 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Campers may be tricked into underestimating Mother Nature on Mount Washington. The consequences can be getting blown off of ridges, avalanches, and hypothermia.

2. Sahale Glacier, North Cascades National Park, Washington

Located in the northwestern corner of the contiguous United States on the border with the Great White North, there are incredible alpine meadows and unmatched views to be enjoyed by intrepid campers. At only 5.7 miles in, there are great campsites - not too taxing for seasoned hikers. However, the trek is physically demanding. At 7,600 feet from sea level, the oxygen is thin, and things can get disorienting. Add to that the year-round risk of avalanches, and this is truly one of the most dangerous places to try to camp.

1. Great Sail Cliff, Baffin Island, Canada

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The most dangerous place to camp in North America is by far the Great Sail Cliff on Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Only the most experienced climbers would even attempt to climb this cliff, and it can take weeks. Yes, that means that climbers must camp on the cliff face itself by driving anchors into the rock face and suspending their tents and gear thousands of feet in the air. When camping in these extreme conditions, any carelessness or false moves can mean a long fall and inevitable death.