The Most Haunted Hikes From Coast to Coast

Spooky season is upon us, and though I am an all-season hiker, the woods call out to me much louder the colder and darker it gets, especially leading up to Halloween. I hit the road to explore some of the scariest treks on my coastline, and learned from ghost hunters and brave hikers, to compile a list of seriously bone-chilling climbs nationwide.

From the Witch’s Castle in Oregon, to Zombie Trail in Missouri, and Maiden Cliff in Maine, each site has a story.

West Coast Haunted Hikes

The West Coast holds trails with secrets, sites where there is blood in the soil, and land claimed to hold trapped souls. Some of the stories you’re about to read are historically documented, others are not. Here are the three most talked about on the West Coast.

Iron Goat Trail (Granite Falls, Washington)

Specs: Iron Goat Trail is a nearly 6-mile loop with just under 1,000 feet in elevation gain rated intermediate on TrailForks, near Mount Baker in the Snoqualmie National Forest. Most of the trail is easy, but there are some steep switchbacks toward the beginning or end of the loop, depending on where you choose to begin. Check out passes and permits info before you go.

The story:  In 1910, nearly 100 people traveling through the Cascade Mountains in a passenger train became trapped in a deadly storm. A bolt of lightning sent snow cascading down on them, killing almost everyone inside. A survivor described it as “white death moving down the mountainside,” according to NPR.

Goat Trail follows the Great Northern Railway and the remains of the original Cascade Tunnel, just off Highway 2 on Stevens Pass. Hikers claim to feel on edge traveling through, like they are being watched or followed by death.

“Whenever I’m hiking through that old concrete snowshed I always think about what happened there in 1910,” Tom Davis, a trails coordinator for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, told the Seattle Times. “Just to me. It’s a little spooky.”

“I got an extremely uneasy feeling the whole hike,” one hiker said on a Reddit thread discussing the spookiest places in Washington State.

“It was absolutely one of the creepiest hikes I’ve done,” another hiker wrote on the platform. “Our experienced trail dogs picked up and alerted on something at a few points…The whole trail felt oppressive, it felt like something was watching us.”

What else is spooky about Granite Falls? While in town, check out the Granite Falls Historic Museum, rumored to be a paranormal hot spot, too.

The Witch’s Castle (Portland, Oregon)

Specs: It’s only about a mile-long trek out to the Witch’s Castle and back from Wildwood trailhead, with just a couple hundred feet of elevation gain. But if you continue on past the castle located in Forest Park, there are multiple trails that can be accessed from it. Each loop takes two to three hours each, moderate, and offers incredible panoramic views of Portland, Oregon, like the trek up to Pittock Mansion. Park entrance is free.

The story:  The abandoned castle found on Wildwood trail was once a ranger’s station and hiker’s restroom. Built in the 1930s, it was destroyed in the sixties after a huge storm rolled in on Columbus Day. The city decided against repairs and it soon became a popular spot for teenage hangouts, but also, a place where practicing witches perform magic and rituals (which I witnessed first hand).

Before the city owned the land, it belonged to the Balch family, who in the mid-1800s, hired a man named Mortimer Stump to help clear out the forest around their homestead. Stump fell in love with one of Danford Balch’s daughters, and asked for her hand in marriage. Danford refused, threatening to kill the man if he continued to see his daughter. The relationship didn’t end, so Danford shot Mortimer in the face with a double barrel shotgun. Danford became the first man to be legally executed in the state, for committing the murder.

On forums, hikers have discussed experiencing unusual energy, seen floating lights, or 19th century shadowy figures crying out in the night. Portland ghost hunters report that both Danford and Mortimer haunt the land, or the ghost of Mary Jane, Mrs. Blach, who has been deemed the Witch of the house.

What else is spooky about Portland? Well, a lot is spooky about Portland, but check out the Shanghai Tunnels under the Merchant Hotel, dubbed one of the most haunted places in America and featured on The Travel Channel. Tickets are $38 a person. Tours run all the time.

Tesemini Trail (Spirit Lake, Idaho)

Specs: This 3.5 mile out-and-back in Spirit Lake, Idaho, is breathtaking for more reasons than one. Tesemini Trail may be difficult to find, but it’s easy to trek, with continual lake views and just under 400 feet in elevation gain. When your GPS pings for you to stop, trust it. The turnoff to the trailhead looks like someone’s private driveway, but shortly after you make the turn, you’ll see the Inland Empire sign, advising you about the trail. Day passes should be purchased  before you go.

The story: The city of Spirit Lake published the legend of its waters, stating that Hyas-Tyee-Skookum-Tum-Tum (Good Chieftains) of the Kootenai Tribe had a daughter, Hya-Pam (Fearless Running Water), who loved a Kootenai Brave, Hasht-Eel-Ame-Hoom (Shining Eagle). The leader of a neighboring tribe wanted Hya-Pam’s hand in marriage, so to avoid war, her father agreed. Hearing the news, she and her Brave bound themselves together and leapt into the lake from a spot locally known as “Suicide Cliff.” Their bodies were never found, but locals and visitors, alike, say that when the wind is still and the moon bright, the couple’s shadowy figures can be seen drifting across the lake in a phantom canoe. In the spring, it is said that their cries can be heard as the ice melts and their spirits are released.

What else is spooky about Spirit Lake? Rathdrum Mountain Park and Hoodooo Mountain are known for paranormal activity. Hike Rathdrum Mountain Trail for an insane view of the Coeur d’Alene Mountains, or take the short trek up to Slate Creek Hot Springs, adjacent to Hoodoo Mountain.

Mountain States Haunted Hikes

There are just as many eery tales coming from trails winding through the Mountain States. From abandoned towns to grown over cemeteries, these spots will give you a thrill.

Garnet Ghost Town (Drummond, Montana)

Specs: Garnet Ghost Town in Drummon, Montana, has a 3-mile out and back trail easy to complete with nearly 500 feet of elevation gain. During your trek, you will pass two abandoned mineshafts, throwing you back in time to when the town was bustling during the Gold Rush. Visiting requires a permit.

The story: One thousand people lived in Garnet in the 1890s, most mining for gold. It took only two decades for the town to be abandoned after the gold dried up, but it remained well preserved. In the early 2000s, the Huffington Post published a story about Garnet, stating that the Department of the Interior was looking for folks to repopulate the town. Those interested in moving would receive a furnished cabin and a food stipend. The phone rang off the hook for weeks.

“It’s primitive, to say the least,” ranger Nacoma Gainan told the Montana Standard in an article about the opportunity. “It’s for people who love the outdoors and want to give back. There’s no electricity, no Wi-Fi, and no running water. But there are trails to explore, artifacts to inspect. Volunteers are really left to their own devices after the visitors are gone.”

Ellen Baumler, a Montana Historical Society ghost specialist, and author, famously wrote this about the salon in the center of town: “Late at night, the spirits of Garnet come out to play in the moonlight. Sometimes, in the deep winter quiet, a piano tinkles in Kelley’s Saloon, and the spirits dance to ghostly music. Men’s voices echo in the empty rooms. But the moment a living, human hand touches the building, the noises stop.”

Anyone can step back in time and visit today. The visitor center remains open and two cabin rentals are available December through April by calling the Missoula Field Office BLM.

What else is spooky about Drummond? Montana is the place to be if you’re a ghost hunter, and the state is known for its guided tours. Field of Screams, Unseen Missoula, and ghost tours at the Conrad Mansion are a few of the most popular.

Transept Trail (The Grand Canyon, Arizona)

Specs: Transept Trail is located in the Grand Canyon and is just under 4 miles of trail with about 4oo feet of elevation gain. The route connects Grand Canyon Lodge to the North Rim Campground. You’ll hike alongside of a canyon most of the climb, and pass through an ancestral Puebloan ruin halfway through. If you’re hiking as the sun goes down, you may hear who locals call the wailing woman.

The story: The story of the wailing woman is the most famous ghost story in the history of the Grand Canyon, Outside previously reported. The legend goes that a young woman was traveling through with her husband and son shortly after Grand Canyon Lodge was built in 1928. Her husband and son went for a hike on what is now Transept Trail without her and were caught in a storm. The man and boy died, and the mother, reported to have been dressed in a white dress with blue flowers on it, ended her life in the lodge when she learned of their deaths.

Hikers have reported hearing her wail along the trail, while others say they’ve actually seen her ghost, dressed in a white dress with blue flowers. The original lodge burned to the ground in 1932. Some witnesses reported seeing her in the flames.

What else is spooky about The Grand Canyon? Hikers say Spooky Canyon, a 2.9-mile loop in the Grand Canyon, gives off spooky vibes. The route winds around the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, known for its narrow, dark slot canyons, according to Gaia. 

Village Walk (Golden, Colorado)

Specs: Village Walk Trail is just about a mile out and back with not even 200 feet of an elevation gain, but it connects to Village Ride Trail to form a loop, which is just as long. Settled just outside of the town of Golden, hikers can catch an eery glimpse of the Mount Vernon House, one of two remaining structures in the area, along with the ruins of Mount Vernon cemetery.

The story: Mount Vernon was one of Colorado’s first settlements. There are only a few headstones left standing in the ruins of its cemetery, but that doesn’t take from the fright. Mount Vernon is a popular place for hiking, jogging, and mountain biking, but it is also a place whispered to be haunted by the bodies of those now without graves.

What else is spooky about Golden? Visitors can join a two-hour tour of the town of Golden nearby, that holds its own dark past, including stories of murder and an annual “Night of Terror.”

Midwest/Central Haunted Hikes

Horror documentaries have hailed from the midwestern and central states. There are stories of Zombie trails that host a “shadow nest” of ghost children, and hauntings of cave dwellers who lived and died long ago in the same woods. Here are two of the most frightening trails (and tales).

Zombie Trail (Wildwood, Missouri)

Specs: Zombie Trail located in Rock Hollow Park near Wildwood, Missouri is a 5.2-mile out-and-back trail with about a 500-foot elevation gain. It was first used by Native Americans to cross the Meramec River, and saw heavy foot traffic during the Civil War. The path was greatly destroyed over time and nicknamed the “Zombie Road” in the eighties. There have been unexplained accidents happening ever since.

The story: Hikers have described experiencing dread on Zombie Trail and hearing cries, most commonly of what resembles an old woman. Multiple deaths have been documented in the area, mostly of workers experiencing accidents. Some hikers claim to have seen shadowy figures and blue light, and there was a horror documentary released in 2007 by the Booth Brothers called Children of the Grave that aims to show a “shadow nest” of ghost children still haunting the woods.

What else is spooky about Wildwood? Just outside of Wildwood is Eureka Fear Farm dubbed “The Field of Nightmares” by visitors. The guided haunted trail experience is just under an hour with “scare zones” that cause visitors to never return. General admission is $30.

Old Man’s Cave Trail (Logan, Ohio)

Specs: Old Man’s Cave Trail to Naturalist Cabin is a mile-long loop in Hocking Hills State Park named to honor an early Ohioan who lived in one of the caves. During the hike, you will see multiple waterfalls and stunning sandstone cliffs. There are staircases leading in and out of a gorge, so wear boots with strong traction and be ready for some mud.

The story: Richard Rowe, the mentioned cave dweller and an early settler of the town, died via a gun accident near the cave. The spot he was buried in was never marked. Hikers have mentioned seeing the ghost of the old man and his hound dogs ever since.

What else is spooky about Logan? Visitors can explore Moonville Tunnel, a tourist attraction near Logan believed to contain the ghosts of railroad workers struck down by a train in the tunnel in 1859. Portions of the railroad line can be hiked and biked today. Visitors say they can sometimes see the lanterns of those who have gone on, flickering through the tunnel.

Southern Haunted Hikes

The South, the birthplace of Voodoo and witchcraft in America, hosts many historical sites with dark pasts and present glooms. From the revenge of a Voodoo priestess to what is known as the top of the Devil’s Throne, the veil seems to be thin there when venturing out into the woods.

Manchac “Ghost Swamp” (Ponchatoula, Louisiana)

Specs: Though there is a dirt trail along the Manchac “Ghost Swamp,” paddling the five miles out and back through eery marshlands is the spook you’re looking for. You’ll find the Manchac Wetlands northwest of New Orleans. Paddling through the dense forest, twilight travelers have recorded hearing unidentifiable sounds.

The story: The legend of Manchac Swamp is well-known in the South. The story begins in 1915 with the death of Julia Brown, who was a voodoo priestess in her town of Finner, which no longer exists today. Brown perished in a Category 4 hurricane after prophesying that she would die and take everyone in the town with her. Generation after generation, nearby residents believe her spirit, and the spirits that worked with her, haunt the swamp. The only thing on the island today is a mass grave where the dead are buried. Both a 2009 A&E special, Extreme Paranormal, and a 2013 SyFy series, Haunted Highway, seem to catch paranormal activity emerging from the swamp.

What else is spooky about Ponchatoula? The Destrehan Plantation Haunted Tour, nearby, is an attraction that most people can’t tell is manufactured. Tickets are $69 a person.

Ghost Loop Trail (Maynardville, Tennessee)

Specs: Ghost Loop Trail located in Maynardville, Tennessee, is a 1.2-mile moderate loop that runs deep into the historic grounds of its early inhabitants. The trail flows into Big Valley where the remnants of the famous Ghost House stand.

The story: Locals say that unexplainable events have occurred along Ghost Loop Trail where a cemetery resides holding the remains of the Hutchinson family who used to farm the land. Visitors have shared tales of cries in the woods and mysterious figures in the house.

What else is spooky about Maynardville? Enter if you dare—Jefferson County hosts a well-known attraction called “Frightmare Manor” on the land where serial killer Jeremiah Lexer once lived. Tickets start at $27.

Whiteside Mountain Trail (Whiteside Mountain, North Carolina)

Specs: The 2-mile loop at Whiteside Mountain is an iconic landmark along the Eastern Continental Divide that takes you up 750-foot-high cliffs estimated to be 390 to 460 million years old. The trail is rated moderate, but parts of it are quite steep. The 500-foot elevation gain happens seemingly all at once, and is not gradual.

The story: The Cherokees believed that Whiteside Mountain was part of a vast rock bridge that a wicked monster, U’tlun’ta, was building across the mountain range. Legend has it that the devil’s throne exists in a cave there, but more is found around “U’tlun’ta,” or “Spearfinger,” described as having skin made of stone and one long finger sharpened to cut into the flesh of victims. According to Cherokee legend, Spearfinger was killed by local tribes, but her haunting chant still echoes through the mountains to this day. Locals say the chant goes something like:

Uwe la na tsiku. Su sa sai.

Liver, I eat it. Su sa sai.

Uwe la na tsiku. Su sa sai

What else is spooky about Whiteside? Those up for it can explore Henry River Mill Village, famous for being a filming location for District 12 in the first Hunger Games movie. Though an abandoned town overall, it offers lodging and guided tours for Hunger Games lovers. Tours are about $20 per person.

East Coast Haunted Hikes

Last but not least, here’s what’s spooky about the East. The two chosen trails hold the stories of two lost children, who locals say, still live in the hills.

Bluff Mountain (Monroe, Virginia)

Specs: Bluff Mountain trail, located near the town of Monroe, Virgina, is a hard, 3.7-mile out and back with a nearly 1,400-foot elevation gain. The trail follows a section of the Appalachian Trail from Salt Log Gap to Punch Bowl Crossing. The elevation gain is steady and not dramatic, though there are some steep and rocky spots. You will pass both Punchbowl Mountain and Bluff Mountain that each provide stunning views of the lush Virginian terrain.

The story: In 1891, a five-year-old boy named Ottie ventured out with other children to collect firewood to bring back to a schoolhouse near Bluff Mountain, but he failed to show. The boy went missing in March, when snow covered the mountains and the temperatures weren’t survivable for long. Ottie’s body was eventually found and buried on the mountainside. His tombstone reads, “This is the exact spot little Ottie Cline Powell’s body was found April 5, 1891, after straying from Tower Hill School House Nov. 9, a distance of 7 miles. Age 4 years 11 months.”

Locals say Ottie can be seen wandering through the woods looking for his way back home each year around the time of his disappearance.

What else is spooky about Monroe? Some Virginians say the most haunted place in the state is just outside of Monroe in Radford. St. Albans Sanatorium holds a dark history of patient torture and suffering due to highly experimental treatments, like electroshock therapy. General admission is $20 for a tour.

Ridge Trail via Maiden Cliff Trail (Camden, Maine)

Specs: Just over 5 miles out and back, this incredible (but difficult) trail features a nearly 1,500-foot elevation gain and breathtaking view from the top of Mount Megunticook that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, Penobscot Bay, and the town of Camden.

The story: Maiden Cliff in Camden, Maine, is named after Elenora French, a 12-year-old girl who tragically passed away after falling 300 feet from a nearby cliff in 1964 while reaching for her bonnet that had blown off her head. She survived the fall, but later died from her internal injuries. A white cross can be found at the edge of the cliff along the trail, commemorating her life. Maiden Cliff trail leads to her memorial, as well as views of Megunticook Lake.

Hikers say they have seen her spirit wandering around the area, experienced strange cold drafts in the spot she died, and heard her distant cries on windy days.

What else is spooky about Camden? For history buffs and conspiracy theorists—Camden Ghost Walks tour explores the town’s haunted history that involves The Round Table Foundation, a parapsychology lab documented to have explored telepathy and extrasensory perception (ESP), and other stories of the town’s castaways and secret government programs. Tickets are $25 per person.