1/12 Mackinac Ice Bridge Michigan’s Straights of Mackinac freeze in the dead of winter, making it possible for snowmobiles to cross from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island. Government agencies and publications do not provide information on the ice bridge's location or status because of how unsafe it is to cross. (Getty Images)

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Bridges provide safe passage for people and vehicles over bodies of water, valleys and roads, but even the safest and most solid-seeming bridge can seem a little scary. The structures on this list—some of the world’s most terrifying bridges—are bridges that few would probably cross without at least some anxiety. From bridges made of vines to rickety suspension bridges,

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1. Mackinac Ice Bridge

When temperatures have been below zero for a stretch of time and winds have been light, the Straights of Mackinac freeze and people are able to cross over the ice from Michigan's St. Ignace to Mackinac Island via snowmobile. City organizations and many publications do not provide information on the bridge's location or status because of how unsafe it is to cross, and riders cross at their own risk.

2. The Vine Bridges of Iya Valley, Japan

Located in the remote West Iya Valley, one of Japan’s three “hidden” valleys, are a series of vine bridges. While no one is sure who first created the vine bridges, they have existed in the valley for hundreds of years, with some historians dating them back to the 1100s, according to Atlas Obscura. At one point, it is believed that the the valley was home to as many as 13 vine bridges, and at the time the bridges were created simply from Wisteria vines woven together and thin wooden planks with 8- to 12-inch gaps between them.

Today, three vine bridges remain, thanks to the work of local artisans to keep them alive, and though they retain their original aesthetic, the bridges have been reinforced with steel cables beneath the vines, and have been rebuilt every three years with wooden planks spaced every seven inches. The largest remaining vine bridge is the Iya Kazurabashi Bridge. Still, crossing the bridge is not for the faint of heart - there is still a 45-foot drop to the river and each footstep is accompanied by a swaying sensation as you cross the bridge.

3. Bach Long Bridge, Son La province, Vietnam

Vietnam's Bach Long Bridge holds the record for the longest glass-bottomed bridge on Earth. The bridge opened to the public in April 2022 at a staggering 2,073 feet in length and 492 feet above ground, it's impossible to avoid looking down.

The bridge is made of high definition glass that is tempered and reinforced, and can handle the weight of 450 people at once. Prior to opening, an SUV was driven over the bridge to test its strength, but that may not help anyone with a fear of heights.

4. Eshima Ohashi Bridge, Japan

Bridge or roller coaster? The Eshima Ohashi Bridge, a concrete road bridge, spans a mile across Lake Nakaumi in Japan, linking the cities of Matsue and Sakaiminato. But what gives it a thrill-ride factor is the fact that it rises steeply so ships can pass underneath. It has a gradient of 6.1% on the Shimane Prefecture side and 5.1% on the Tottori Prefecture side. But looks can also be deceiving. When seen from a distance at its side, from start to finish, the bridge actually reveals a gradual incline, not the sharp 45-degree angle it appears on photos.

5. Aiguille du Midi Iron Bridge, Rhône-Alpes, France

Perched atop a 12,602-foot-high peak in the French Alps along the Mont Blanc massif, the Aiguille du Midi Iron Bridge offers one of the most breathtaking views anywhere in the world. From the French resort town of Chamonix, visitors can take a cable car all the way to the peak, where terraces provide a 360 view of all the French, Swiss and Italian Alps. But one structure at Aiguille du Midi stands out: the short footbridge that spans across two of its spires. Although it's a short bridge, its sky-high view of crevasses is not for the faint of heart.

6. The Confederation Bridge, Canada

The Confederation Bridge, considered one of Canada's top engineering achievements of the 20th century, may not have the high-altitude thrills, but its fright factor comes from the fact that it's 8 miles long and stretches over ice-cold water. In fact, this bridge is the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water, according to its official website. The curved bridge, which links the Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, took four years of construction and 5,000 workers to complete. It opened to traffic in 1997 at the cost of one billion dollars.

7. The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, Randa, Switzerland

The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge is the longest pedestrian-only suspension bridge in the Alps, at almost 1,640 feet long. At its highest point, the bridge is about 278 feet above the valley belowand is often crossed by hikers making a two day trek to view the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and the Bernese Alps.

The Zermatt website states that those who cross this bridge should be brave, as they will be able to see through grating in the bridge just how high they are. It is advised that the bridge is avoided during storms, especially when lightning is present, and is not accessible during the winter.

8. The Capilano Suspension Bridge, North Vancouver, Canada

Stretching through the canopy of evergreen trees and the Capilano River, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is located near Vancouver in the Canadian region of British Columbia. Originally built in 1889 by a Scottish civil engineer, the bridge was made from hemp ropes and cedar planks. Today the bridge has been updated and the surrounding area includes a park complete with seven suspension bridges in the Treetops Adventure, and a cliffwalk that hangs 300 feet above the ground and stretches 700 feet across. The Capilano Bridge is 460 feet long and hangs 230 feet above the river, providing exquisite views of the surrounding forest.

9. Beipanjiang Bridge, Guizhou Province, China

Beipanjiang Bridge in southwest China's Guizhou Province, which opened in 2016, is currently the highest bridge on Earth. The bridge is 1,854 feet above the valley below and stretches 4,400 feet between the towns of Liupanshui and Xuanwei. The views from the bridge are daunting, and reveal a deep, tree-filled gorge.

10. The Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, Near Ballintoy, Northern Ireland

The Carrick-a-Rede bridge is a famous rope bridge near Ballintoy in Northern Ireland that has become a tourist attraction in recent years. The 98-foot bridge links the island of Carrick-a-Rede to the mainland and was first erected by salmon fishermen in 1755, according to the National Trust website. No one has fallen off the bridge, but some visitors, too scared to make a return trip across the bridge, have had to be taken off the island by boat.

11. The U Bein Bridge, Amarapura, Myanmar

The U Bein Bridge, which spans 3,937 feet (three-quarters of a mile) across the Taugthaman Lake in Amarapura, Myanmar, is the longest teak bridge in the world. It was built by the city's mayor, U Bein, in the mid-1800s, who salvaged the unwanted teak columns from the old palace during the move to Mandalay. The bridge has no rails, and the years have taken a toll on some of the pillars, with some having been replaced by concrete.

12. The Royal Gorge Bridge, Near Canon City, Colorado

The Royal Gorge Bridge spans the Arkansas River near Canon City, Colorado. The bridge deck is 956 feet above the river below and held the record for highest bridge in the world from 1929 to 2001. The bridge consists of 1,257 wooden planks and 4,100 steel cables, and offers breathtaking views of the gorge below. The bridge is for pedestrians only.

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1/49 1. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten Maho Beach is located in St. Maarten, and famous for the Princess Juliana International Airport adjacent to the it. Arriving aircraft must touch down as close as possible to the beginning of Runway 10 resulting in aircraft flying over the beach at minimal altitude. (Marina113/Getty Images)

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12 Of The World's Most Terrifying Bridges