Watch for missing guardrails and strong currents.

Yes, those are the two biggest.

Missing guardrails on cliffs, bridges, or steep trails mean you’re one misplaced step from a long fall. No sign, no barrier, no second chances. Strong currents in rivers or along beaches can pull you under before you realize you’re in trouble. Riptides don’t care how well you swim.

Other hazards worth scanning for: loose rocks on scrambles, slippery wet surfaces near waterfalls, and sudden drop-offs hidden by vegetation. But guardrails and currents are the ones that kill people most predictably.

Your life is worth more than a photo op.