Hiking is one of America's favorite outdoor activities. For many, hiking allows them to escape from the fast-paced routine of regular life, and immerse themselves in the beauty and serenity of the Mother Nature. However, the United States is home to numerous trails that are steeped in spooky legends and history, perfect for those who appreciate a chilling thrill. Join us for a special edition of the Big Daddy Blog, where we'll explore five of the most haunted hiking trails in the country just in time for Halloween. What are you waiting for? Proceed if you dare!
Batona Trail, NJ
Located within the Pine Barrens, this flat and sandy 50+ mile trail is South Jersey's one and only long distance backpacking trail. Finished in 1961, the trail was dubbed the Batona trail, because its intent was to provide people with a way to get BAck TO NAture. Despite the sentiment, this trail holds a much deeper, darker past.
It's been reported for hundreds of years that the Pine Barrens are home to a malevolent creature known as the Jersey Devil. If you're unfamiliar with the story, this is how it goes: In 1735, Mother Leeds was about to give birth to her 13th child. The labor was long and difficult. And in an act of exhaustion and frustration, Mother Leeds cursed, "Let this child be the devil." The baby spawned with horns, hooves, and wings and was said to fly off into the woods, terrorizing locals, destroying crops, and killing off livestock ever since. With over 2000 noted Jersey Devil sightings, it's no wonder why New Jerseyans urge you to stay vigilant on this trail. And if that doesn't scare you? Others have said that the trail holds a powerful portal, allowing you to transport (or get lost) in other dimensions.
Norton Creek Trail, NC
This moderately-challenging Great Smoky Mountains trail is approximately 2 miles long and is located near Bryson City. It is widely agreed that this trail is quite possibly the most haunted in the United States. Not only will you pass a number of dilapidated foundations, walls, and chimneys marking the memory of a once bustling village community, but you will also cross a record number of cemeteries on your journey.
The haunting is mainly attributed to the Cherokee legend - Spearfinger. This tale is centered around an old witch who would stalk the trails of the Smokies disguised as an innocent elderly woman. Her trusting exterior aided her efforts to lure children who've wandered too far from their homes. She would sing to them to sleep, and then use her sharp stone finger to cut out their livers, which she considered a delicacy to eat.
Old Man's Cave Trail, OH
One of seven major hiking trails of the Hocking Hills State Park, this 1-1.5 mile loop trail is home to grave past. This trail earned its name after two boys found skeletal remains of a man nearly 100 years postmortem. Upon stumbling upon the man's body, it was reported that his ghostly apparition, accompanied by a ghostly wolfhound, walked right past them and disappeared at the end of the cave. The remains were later determined to belong to a man named Retzler, a known trapper who lived above Cedar Valley Creek in the late 1800s. For a number of years, travelers would visit the remains of the man and his dog, before locals officially laid them both to rest in an unmarked grave.
Now, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts alike report hearing the howls of Retzler's dog, Harper, though she has never been seen. Others say that they've seen Retzler walking the trails and even greeting fellow hikers along the way.
Ghost House Trail, TN
This moderately-challenging 1.2 mile loop trail lies in the heart of Big Ridge State Park. While you hike along the trail, you'll encounter the very origin of what locals claim to be the source of the area's supernatural nature. Not even a half-mile into the trail, hikers will come across Norton Cemetery. In this small clearing of land lies the final resting place of Maston Hutcheson and his wife, Martha. During life, the Hutcheson's daughter passed away from tuberculosis around the mid-1800s.
Hikers report hearing the cries of a little girl, witnessing Maston wandering the woods, seeing various apparitions near the gravesites, and even encountering a ghostly dog. There's still some remnants of what was the Hutcheson house, including traces of the root cellar, a cistern, and a well.
Iron Goat Trail, WA
This popular, 6 mile gravel trail along the old Great Northern railroad is located near Skykomish, Washington. However, the lush landscape and and peaceful scenery does not make up for its tragic history. In February of 1910, a deadly blizzard forced down 11 feet of snow over the course of nine days. During this time, two trains were stuck at the nearby Wellington Depot. A half-mile long mass of snow gave way up the nearby mountain, avalanching into the parked train cars waiting at the station. The trains tumbled 150 feet downhill into the Tye River Valley, killing 96 passengers as a result. The treacherous conditions thereafter made it difficult for rescuers to recover the victims. Most weren't collected until mid-summer, nearly four months after the tragedy.
Hikers have reported hearing screams coming from the trail's tunnel, assumed to be the echos of the innocent riders more than 100 years ago. Others have claimed to see apparitions, or feel as though they are being touched without any logical reasoning behind it.
As Halloween approaches, it is the perfect time to celebrate the spirit of the spooky season, all the while continuing to enjoy the great outdoors. Have you visited any of these trails, or do you plan on taking a haunted hike soon? Do you recommend any other trails to make the list? Leave a comment down below!
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