Death-Defying Attractions for the Ultimate Adrenaline Rush

3. Cliff Camping on El Capitan, California

Sleeping in a tent on solid ground? Too easy. How about dangling thousands of feet above the Yosemite Valley floor with nothing but a harness and a nylon platform between you and the abyss? That’s the reality for climbers who take on the extreme challenge of cliff camping on El Capitan, one of the most legendary rock faces in the world. El Capitan stands at a staggering 3,000 feet tall, a sheer granite monolith that challenges even the most experienced rock climbers. Climbers spend days—sometimes even weeks—ascending its vertical face, hauling their gear and food along with them. But the most insane part? At night, they don’t descend. Instead, they sleep on a “portaledge,” a tiny, foldable platform that hangs from the rock face, secured only by a few ropes and anchors. Only those with technical climbing expertise should attempt this, as setting up and securing a portaledge requires precision and knowledge of anchor points. For non-climbers, some adventure companies offer "assisted" cliff camping experiences, where guides handle the technical aspects while guests get a taste of what it’s like to sleep on the side of a vertical cliff. Thrill Factor: Sleeping thousands of feet in the air, with nothing but a thin nylon sheet between you and gravity.