Whether you like heights or not, there’s something undeniably thrilling about bridges. Looking out over the rushing water just a few feet below your shoes and so close you can almost touch it, knowing that there’s only some wood and engineering separating you from the rapid current – it’s pretty incredible.

Then there are the daredevils who enjoy the thrill of strolling across some of the world’s most terrifying and perilous swinging bridges – the ones dangling over ravines and suspended only by a few knotted ropes. These moving, swaying contraptions dot rivers and mountainscapes here and there across the globe, but Idaho has precious few of these dangerous feats craftsmanship. One sits eerily dangling above the mighty rapids of the Payette River, but this particular beauty hangs over the Big Wood in south-central Idaho. Uniquely, the pedestrians that cross this bridge aren’t always of the human sort; rather, they’re sheep! But you can brave the trip yourself.

Check it out:

Idaho's history of sheep herding dates back centuries, and is celebrated at events like the Trailing of the Sheep Festival in Hailey and Ketchum.
Trailing of the Sheep/Facebook
Hundreds of sheep meander through the valley, guided by experienced horses and ranch hands to their seasonal grazing grounds. But these impressive flocks are nothing compared to the 2 million head that roamed throughout the Wood River Valley just a century ago.
Historically, flocks were oftentimes moved across rivers using special "sheep ferries," but the Sheep Bridge across the Big Wood River is a notable exception.
BLM/Facebook/YouTube
Tucked away in amongst the rolling scenery of the Wood River Valley, it's a rickety old bridge that fits right in with the charming rural views.
Photo Credit: Carolyn Haney Photography/Facebook
It also dangles a perilous 30 feet above the Big Wood River, connecting Timmerman and Bennett Hills with the Wood River Valley at the confluence of Rock Creek.
Wikimedia Commons
Of course when the river is at its peak, the bridge is only eight or so feet above the deep, rushing current.

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Trust me, you don't want to get too close to this river.
Andrew Bonamici/Flickr
The bridge was originally built in 1965, but has only had minor cosmetic upgrades since it was first used to connect market-ready sheep to East-bound trains.
Photo Credit: @aaronenglishphotography/Instagram
As you step on the bridge, you'll feel the cables start to sway back and forth along with the breeze and your own footsteps, creaking with every step.
Patrick Dockens/Flickr
The sound a wooden roller coaster makes as it groans up the first hill? It sounds about like that, and you might feel your heart beat a little faster as it starts to move side to side.
Sadly, just this past year one of the ancient rope cables snapped, and the BLM closed the bridge to both foot and hoof traffic.
silverspurs
The BLM is continuing their efforts to repair the bridge, so you'll have the opportunity to take this fear-inducing challenge for yourself come this year's high spring runoff.

In this video by Scott Copeland, you can see just how eerily close to the water this historic swinging bridge is.

Whoa. Would you walk across this? To see this bridge in action by the sheep themselves, you can watch a charming BLM video here.

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