Angkor Wat's temple stairs in Cambodia were supposedly made steep to remind climbers that heaven is hard to reach.
Angkor Wat Temple Stairs, Cambodia —
Angkor Wat's temple stairs in Cambodia were supposedly made steep to remind climbers that heaven is hard to reach.
LOOK Die Bildagentur der Fotografen GmbH / Alamy
To get to the top of the Verrückt in Kansas, start climbing the 264 steps up to the water slide's tower.
The Verrückt, Kansas —
To get to the top of the Verrückt in Kansas, start climbing the 264 steps up to the water slide's tower.
Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts/FILE
Ecuador's Pailon del Diablo Waterfall —in English, the Devil's Cauldron—are slippery from the mist of the falls. Tread carefully.
Pailon del Diablo Waterfall, Ecuador —
Ecuador's Pailon del Diablo Waterfall —in English, the Devil's Cauldron—are slippery from the mist of the falls. Tread carefully.
Xinhua / Alamy
Yosemite's Half Dome in California has a stunning view--if you can get the permit and the strength to climb up the rock face along a cable ladder for more than 400 vertical feet.
Half Dome, California —
Yosemite's Half Dome in California has a stunning view--if you can get the permit and the strength to climb up the rock face along a cable ladder for more than 400 vertical feet.
iStockphoto
There are 600 feet or so of steep, granite stairs carved by the Inca carved more than 500 years ago into the side of Huayna Picchu at Machu Picchu. The stairs lead to the rarely visited Moon Temple.
Inca Stairs, Peru —
There are 600 feet or so of steep, granite stairs carved by the Inca carved more than 500 years ago into the side of Huayna Picchu at Machu Picchu. The stairs lead to the rarely visited Moon Temple.
National Geographic Image Collection / Alamy
Want to hike up to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, in New York City ? You'll need a ticket and the hamstrings to climb up a cramped, 146-step double-helix spiral staircase with six feet of head clearance.
Statue of Liberty, New York City —
Want to hike up to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, in New York City ? You'll need a ticket and the hamstrings to climb up a cramped, 146-step double-helix spiral staircase with six feet of head clearance.
Steven JM Sinski / NPS
Norway's Florli Power Station has 4,444 steps that will take you up 2,427 feet. Second, It's also the longest staircase in the world made entirely out of wood.
Florli Stairs, Norway —
Norway's Florli Power Station has 4,444 steps that will take you up 2,427 feet. Second, It's also the longest staircase in the world made entirely out of wood.
Karla Brunet
There's no official step count of the Mount Huashan Heavenly Stairs carved into the side of a Taoist mountain in China. But you'll lose count quickly by the end, where you have to walk a three-plank-wide walkway with only a chain to hold, flush against the flat rock wall. Tea awaits you at the top.
Mount Huashan Heavenly Stairs, China —
There's no official step count of the Mount Huashan Heavenly Stairs carved into the side of a Taoist mountain in China. But you'll lose count quickly by the end, where you have to walk a three-plank-wide walkway with only a chain to hold, flush against the flat rock wall. Tea awaits you at the top.
Fredrik Jansson / Alamy
The steps at Janssen Observatory in Mont Blanc, France aren't the challenge. It's where they're located: at the summit of the tallest mountain in the Alps, open to the elements.
Janssen Observatory, France —
The steps at Janssen Observatory in Mont Blanc, France aren't the challenge. It's where they're located: at the summit of the tallest mountain in the Alps, open to the elements.
Derek Latone
The highlight of at the Batu Caves of Malaysia is climbing the 272 steps leading 330 feet up the rock to the main Temple Cave--and making it past the macaque monkeys who might steal snacks and other things out of your bag.
Batu Caves, Malaysia —
The highlight of at the Batu Caves of Malaysia is climbing the 272 steps leading 330 feet up the rock to the main Temple Cave--and making it past the macaque monkeys who might steal snacks and other things out of your bag.
iStockphoto
The spiral staircase to the towers of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, doesn't have a banister to prevent you from falling over the edge while you're walking up or down.
Sagrada Familia, Spain —
The spiral staircase to the towers of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, doesn't have a banister to prevent you from falling over the edge while you're walking up or down.
Kate Hockenhull / Alamy
It's actually illegal to climb the Haiku Stairs in Oahu, Hawaii, and a guard is stationed at the bottom to stop trespassers from trying. <br />
Haiku Stairs, Hawaii —
It's actually illegal to climb the Haiku Stairs in Oahu, Hawaii, and a guard is stationed at the bottom to stop trespassers from trying.
Chris Driscoll / Alamy
There's a steep and slender staircase at the Duomo di Milano in Italy that you'll need to climb to get those spectacular rooftop views.
Duomo di Milano, Italy —
There's a steep and slender staircase at the Duomo di Milano in Italy that you'll need to climb to get those spectacular rooftop views.
Dave Lauridsen