43. Canton Avenue, Pennsylvania, USA
Constructed: After 1758
Risk Factor: Steepest downhill grade in the world, cobblestone streets
Located in the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Canton Avenue is world-famous. Though a small, cobblestone road, Canton Avenue is the steepest public street in the entire United States. It is 630 feet long and has a gradient of 37% (claimed).
Canton Avenue, Pennsylvania, USA @atlasobscura / Pinterest.com
There has been some dispute over whether Canton Ave. is the steepest street in the world, with the Pittsburgh media saying yes and the Guinness Book of World Records saying no. Currently, New Zealand’s Baldwin Street is the steepest road in the world. Record or no record, there’s no denying that Canton is a harrowing drive, as you have to ride the brakes heavily and risk the cobblestones wreaking havoc on your car.