For most, national parks offer peace, beauty, and an escape into nature. But for those who like a dose of the eerie with their elevation gain, there are trails shrouded in legends, ghost stories, and unexplained phenomena. If you’re brave enough, these haunted hikes offer more than just scenic views—they might just offer a brush with the otherworldly.
Here are 10 haunted national park trails where hikers have reported ghost sightings, whispers in the wind, and that unmistakable feeling of being watched.
1. The Grand Canyon’s Transept Trail (Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona)
Haunting: The "Wailing Woman"
This short trail near the North Rim is said to be haunted by a woman who died by suicide after her husband and son fell to their deaths in the canyon. Hikers have heard her cries echoing through the canyon, especially at dusk.
2. Spruce Railroad Trail (Olympic National Park, Washington)
Haunting: Lake Crescent’s Lady of the Lake
The ghost of Hallie Latham Illingworth, murdered in 1937 and dumped in the lake, is said to haunt this tranquil trail. Her body was found years later, eerily preserved in the cold waters. Her apparition reportedly appears near the water’s edge on foggy mornings.
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3. Appalachian Trail (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina)
Haunting: Spearfinger, a Cherokee Legend
The Smokies are rich in folklore, none more chilling than the tale of Spearfinger, a stone-skinned witch with a sharp finger who lured children. Some hikers report hearing strange whispers and footsteps following them on foggy nights.
4. Old Faithful Area Trails (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming)
Haunting: The Haunted Hotel and Lost Souls of the Geysers
Though Yellowstone is known for geysers, it’s also home to tales of spirits wandering the basin—especially near the Old Faithful Inn. Staff and hikers have reported seeing figures vanish into thin air and hearing doors slam with no one nearby.
5. Elkmont Ghost Town Trail (Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee)
Haunting: Abandoned vacation town ghosts
Once a resort town, Elkmont was abandoned in the 1990s. Now, hikers exploring the area have described shadowy figures, children’s laughter, and cold spots in the derelict buildings and along the surrounding trails.
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6. Devils Den Trail (Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania)
Haunting: Civil War soldiers and phantom photographers
This battlefield trail is littered with ghost sightings. Some report seeing Confederate soldiers appearing and vanishing, while others describe strange camera malfunctions and eerie whispers in the rocks and brush.
7. Chilnualna Falls Trail (Yosemite National Park, California)
Haunting: The Weeping Woman
Linked to Native American lore, a spirit is said to haunt this area near Wawona. Legend says she cries for her lost children who drowned in the river. Visitors have reported hearing her sobs and seeing fleeting figures in white.
8. Fort Pickens Trail (Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida)
Haunting: The ghost of Geronimo
Though never imprisoned there, the legend persists that Geronimo’s spirit haunts the fort and the nearby trails. Others claim to have seen soldiers in full uniform marching silently through the mist.
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9. Bryce Canyon’s Rim Trail (Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah)
Haunting: Hoodoos that whisper
The hoodoos (rock spires) are believed in Paiute lore to be ancient beings turned to stone for their sins. Some hikers say the rocks whisper at night or shift when no one is looking.
10. Phantom Forest Trail (Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado)
Haunting: Mysterious lights and vanishing hikers
Local legends tell of lights dancing through the trees and hikers who get turned around by an unseen force. While no official records confirm disappearances, the trail has an oddly high number of reports of disorientation and lost time.
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Tips for Hiking Haunted Trails:
Never hike alone, especially near dusk or dark.
Tell someone your route and ETA.
Pack a flashlight and a fully charged phone.
Respect the stories and cultures tied to the land—many of these trails hold deep significance beyond ghost tales.
Keep an open mind... but maybe don’t follow the ghostly figure into the woods.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these trails offer a unique blend of natural beauty and spine-tingling mystery. If you choose to hike one, tread carefully—you may not be as alone as you think.
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