Gabriel Rickles
Some places make your heart race before you even step foot on them. These sky-high marvels defy gravity and stretch across deep canyons, roaring rivers, endless roads, etc. Each one tells a story of human ingenuity and nerve-testing heights. Ready for a journey that will leave your stomach in freefall? Let’s go.
Royal Gorge Bridge (Colorado): 955 Feet
Soaring 955 feet over the Arkansas River, this suspension bridge once held the world record for height. It remains a stomach-churning walk for thrill-seekers ever since 1929. The wooden planks beneath your feet tremble as gusts whistle through the Royal Gorge.
Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (Arizona/Nevada): 890 Feet
Black Canyon plunges dramatically below this bridge. It is one of America’s most heart-stopping crossings. At 890 feet, this concrete arch bridge offers sweeping desert views. Opened in 2010, it was designed to ease traffic congestion. The sheer drop alongside the Hoover Dam is both breathtaking and unforgettable.
New River Gorge Bridge (West Virginia): 876 Feet
This steel arch beauty dominates West Virginia’s skyline at 876 feet above the New River. Built in 1977, it lessened travel time across the gorge from 40 minutes to less than a minute. And every October, BASE jumpers leap from its deck during the exhilarating Bridge Day festival!
Foresthill Bridge (California): 730 Feet
In 1973, Foresthill Bridge opened, soaring 730 feet above the American River as California’s highest bridge. A Hollywood favorite, it has appeared in multiple films (like “The Ugly Truth”). Its golden-hued structure mesmerizes drivers crossing its span and those admiring it from below.
Glen Canyon Dam Bridge (Arizona): 700 Feet
Perched just upstream from Lake Powell, this 700-foot-high steel arch bridge was a game-changer in 1959 and allowed construction workers easy access to Glen Canyon Dam. Today, visitors flock here for dizzying views of red rock cliffs plunging into the winding Colorado River below.
Phil G. McDonald Bridge (West Virginia): 700 Feet
Part of Interstate 64, the sleek, modern bridge spans Glade Creek, offering a smooth passage over West Virginia’s rugged terrain. Completed in 1988, it stands as an engineering feat that allows travelers to cross effortlessly. A glance over the guardrail, however, is a stark reminder of its towering 700-foot height.
Bidwell Bar Bridge (California): 627 Feet
Suspended 627 feet over the Middle Fork Feather River, this bridge was made in 1965 to replace an older span submerged beneath Lake Oroville. A lone survivor of the town that vanished underwater, it stands as a silent record of history—and a one-of-a-kind drive.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (New Mexico): 565 Feet
Nicknamed the “high bridge to nowhere,” the 565-foot truss bridge spans the rugged Rio Grande Gorge. It’s been there since 1965 and is a magnet for photographers and road-trippers. The vertigo-inducing pedestrian walkway lets you feel the canyon’s depth beneath your feet.
Dent Bridge (Idaho): 500 Feet
This remote suspension bridge, 500 feet above the North Fork Clearwater River, is a lifeline for rural Idahoans. Built in 1971, after Dworshak Dam flooded the valley, it replaced the old ferry route. The still water below makes the sheer drop feel even more dramatic.
Pit River Bridge (California): 500 Feet
This is not your average bridge. The two-tiered structure carries both I-5 traffic and Union Pacific trains 500 feet above the Pit River arm of Shasta Lake. When water levels drop, its towering concrete piers seem to stretch endlessly downward, which makes it even more spine-chilling.
Perrine Bridge (Idaho): 486 Feet
A thrill-seeker’s paradise, Perrine Bridge rises 486 feet over the Snake River. It’s one of the few bridges in the U.S. where BASE jumping is legal year-round. Every weekend, daredevils hurl themselves off the edge, parachuting down to the river below. Would you take the plunge?
Navajo Bridge (Arizona): 470 Feet
The 470-foot-high arch bridge spans Marble Canyon and offers stunning views of the Colorado River. The original 1929 structure was too narrow for modern traffic, which led to the construction of an identical bridge in 1995. Today, the old bridge remains a pedestrian-only pathway to history.
Moyie River Canyon Bridge (Idaho): 464 Feet
Built in 1965, this steel deck truss bridge carries U.S. 2 traffic 464 feet over the Moyie River. Located in Idaho’s rugged panhandle, it often surprises unsuspecting drivers with its unexpected height. Blink, and you might miss it—but your stomach won’t.
Pine Valley Creek Bridge (California): 450 Feet
A futuristic aesthetic defines the twin spans of the Nello Irwin Greer Bridge, a vital I-8 highway link between San Diego and Arizona. Hovering 450 feet above Pine Valley Creek, the concrete marvel stands as both an engineering feat and a striking visual landmark.
Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge (California): 400 Feet
Arizona’s high desert scenes are home to the Burro Creek Bridge, which stands at 388 feet above its namesake creek. First completed in 1966, a second parallel span was added in 2005. Driving across, you’ll feel like you’re floating over an endless sea of rugged canyon walls.
Burro Creek Bridge (Arizona): 388 Feet
Arizona’s high desert scenes are home to the Burro Creek Bridge, which stands at 388 feet above its namesake creek. First completed in 1966, a second parallel span was added in 2005. Driving across, you’ll feel like you’re floating over an endless sea of rugged canyon walls.
High Steel Bridge (Washington): 375 Feet
The bridge on the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway was made after the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption wiped out previous routes. Driving across, you’re flanked by volcanic wasteland on one side and lush forest on the other. Rising 370 feet, it offers a dramatic vantage point over the transformed land.
Hoffstadt Creek Bridge (Washington): 370 Feet
This towering relic from 1929 was originally a railroad trestle, later converted into a road bridge. Stretching 375 feet over the South Fork Skokomish River, it’s a hidden gem deep in Washington’s Olympic National Forest. Now, it is a record of historic engineering and offers stunning views.
Lewiston–Queenston Bridge (New York/Ontario): 370 Feet
Towering 370 feet over the swirling Niagara River, the international bridge connects New York and Ontario with a breathtaking border crossing. Spanning the gorge, its steel arch showcases engineering prowess while offering stunning views. Niagara Gorge plunges even deeper, a dramatic reminder of nature’s raw power.
Hansen Bridge (Idaho): 350 Feet
Built in 1966 to replace a crumbling 1919 suspension bridge, the Hansen Bridge hovers 350 feet above the Snake River. It serves as a vital connection for rural Idaho communities. With sheer canyon walls plunging on either side, it’s a drive that commands your full attention.
