Visit These 11 Haunted Forests—If You Dare

Lush woods can be the height of serenity and relaxation, but nature isn’t the only thing you can commune with when you visit these 11 haunted forests.

By: Beth Braden

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The Appalachian Trail—Bluff Mountain, Virginia

Four-year-old Ottie Cline Powell wandered into the woods to look for firewood on November 9, 1891. He never returned. His remains were found by hunters the following April. According to Blue Ridge Country Magazine, hikers report an “eerie, unseen presence near the mountain top.” Perhaps Ottie is just looking for the trail back home.

Need more evidence of paranormal activity in the woods? You can watch full episodes of These Woods Are Haunted on discovery+.

Devil's Tramping Ground—Bear Creek, North Carolina

Deep in central North Carolina is a strange, 40-foot circle where nothing will grow. Local legend has it that the devil himself paces the circle at night as he contemplates what havoc to wreak next.

Randolph Forest—Randolph, Maine

The forest in a tiny town between Portland and Bangor, Maine, is rife with paranormal activity according to the locals. There are strange sounds, uneasy feelings, and the appearance of orbs. In October 2020, the Bangor Daily News talked to residents who believe the woods are now haunted by a beloved local man who disappeared and was never found.

Morgan-Monroe State Forest—Martinsville, Indiana

Southwest of Indianapolis lies a beautiful forest full of trails—and the undead. Hikers report seeing the ghost of a mother mourning at her dead child’s grave, as well as a haunted cabin where campers rarely manage to stay all night. Legend has it, even Bigfoot lurks among the shadows.

Santa Fe National Forest—Terrero, New Mexico

A Spanish Priest murdered at the Holy Ghost Campground in the 17th century haunts the campground, and a local tour guide called the area the "Bermuda Triangle of New Mexico” as there have always been UFOs, odd sounds, and inexplicable disappearances.

Angelina National Forest—Zavalla, Texas

An old sawmill stands in the Boykin Springs area of this eastern Texas town. Legend has it hikers can hear the disembodied screams of a young woman who met her untimely demise at the teeth of the saw while visiting her boyfriend at work.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest—Amboy, Washington

This Pacific Northwest forest is a hotbed for Bigfoot sightings, and Skamania County Washington is actually a safe haven for the mysterious cryptids. A 1969 law made it illegal to hunt Bigfoot with weapons, though plenty of people search the woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of the creature.

Manchac Swamp—Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Julie Brown, a voodoo priestess in nearby Frenier, Louisiana, often sang a song from the porch of her home: “One day, I’m going to die and take the whole town with me.” In 1915, a hurricane ripped through the area and killed more than 50 people. The storm was reportedly summoned by Brown herself. Visitors to the swamp just might have a run-in with the reason so many died.

Yosemite National Park—North Wawona, California

Chilnualna Falls Trail is only an 8 mile hike in the middle of the vast Yosemite National Park, but it is one of the creepiest. Along the trails is Grouse Lake, which is reportedly haunted by a boy who drowned there. The Miwok Tribe believes there is an evil spirit that lures people to the edge of the waterfalls and then pushes them in.

Pine Barrens—New Jersey

New Jersey’s Pine Barrens stretch across most of the southern half of the state, and the vast barrens are home to the Jersey Devil. Legend has it that an Estellville, New Jersey, woman was distraught to learn she was expecting her thirteenth child and said “Let it be the devil.” The child reportedly turned into a flying, cloven-hooved demon after birth and has spent the last 250 years terrifying residents throughout the area.

Stream The Jersey Devil: Monster in the Pines now on discovery+.

Meeman Shelby Forest State Park—Millington, Tennessee

It’s an idyllic park in western Tennessee, not far from Memphis, but something lurks in the dark. The ghost of a man who was disfigured in a munitions factory accident is said to wander the vast forest. Visitors who stop on the bridge and call for him just might see Pigman appear.

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Visit These 11 Haunted Forests—If You Dare

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Appalachian Trail—Bluff Mountain, Virginia

Devil's Tramping Ground—Bear Creek, North Carolina

Randolph Forest—Randolph, Maine

Morgan-Monroe State Forest—Martinsville, Indiana

Santa Fe National Forest—Terrero, New Mexico

Angelina National Forest—Zavalla, Texas

Gifford Pinchot National Forest—Amboy, Washington

Manchac Swamp—Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Yosemite National Park—North Wawona, California

Pine Barrens—New Jersey

Meeman Shelby Forest State Park—Millington, Tennessee

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