Halloween is right around the corner and there is nothing more creepy than an outdoor situation, late at night, with nothing but the moonlight and the howling wolves to keep you company. Adventure seekers looking to reenact the Blair Witch Project can get into the Halloween spirit this season by visiting some of the United States most spooky hiking trails. Here are a few that are sure to give you a case of the creeps.
Haunted Trails
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Transept Trail – Grand Canyon National Park
Visit Grand Canyon National Park and you’ll undoubtedly hear about the Wailing Woman of Transept Trail. One of the area’s most well-known locals, the woman can reportedly be seen pacing the trail in a white dress dotted with blue flowers. Also, as her name suggests, the Wailing Woman cries as she walks. Bonus: There are a few spooky archeological ruins you can check out as you make your way along the trail’s North Rim.
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Norton Creek Trail – Great Smoky Mountains
According to Cherokee legend, a witch named “Spearfinger” supposedly haunts Norton Creek and feasts on wayward children. There are reportedly, however, friendly spirits in the same area, who manifest as floating lights and apparently lead more than a few lost hikers to safety.
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Mammoth Cave – Kentucky
The world’s longest cave system, Mammoth Cave served as a center for tuberculosis patients many years ago, and many of those patients died there. With over 150 documented paranormal occurrences, the caves make an ideal destination for outdoorsmen looking for a good scare.
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Ghost House Trail – Big Ridge State Park, TN
You know you’re in for a spooky trek with a trail named Ghost House Trail. Along the trail you’ll find the historic Hutchinson compound, where hikers claim to hear the panting of an approaching dog, with no dogs around. Furthermore, many have reported the ghostly silhouettes of a family that appear in any photographs taken at the family cemetery.
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Grouse Lake – Yosemite National Park, CA
Perhaps the saddest and scariest location on this list is Yosemite’s Grouse Lake, where visitors report hearing wailing as they approach the water. According to the area’s Native American folklore, the reported cries of distress are those of a young indigenous boy who drowned in the lake. Even worse, several out-of-the-loop visitors have jumped into the lake to save the boy over the years; many drowned themselves.
