Haunted Hiking Trails: Hiking Adventures

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Hiking in nature is beautiful and relaxing. Some hikes lead to breathtaking overlooks or waterfalls. Many times, as you walk the trail, you will see beautiful plants and trees. Some times you will get lucky and see animals peeking curiously at you or skittering off to get away from you. Hikes can be calming and a great stress reliever. Just you and nature.

But what if there was something more? What if you felt like there was something, or someone, out there on the trail with you? Would you enjoy a little fear or uneasy on a hiking trail? I personally don’t know how comfortable I would be hiking on a trail that is reported to be haunted. However, that did not stop me from gathering up some great hiking trails that have a little spooky to it. If you are an adventurer and like to hike unique experiences, then check out our list of haunted hiking trails for potentially interesting and different hiking adventures.

Norton Creek Trail, NC

If you are looking for spooky, you can’t go wrong with checking out the Smokey Mountains. It has a variety of trails that are waiting to scare you. One trail is the Norton Creek Trail. It starts at the North Shore of Lake Fontana. The area is known for a significant amount of cemeteries.

The trail does go by some cemeteries and ruins from walls, chimneys, and parts of old homes. There are reports of visitors sensing something eerie in the area or feeling like something or someone was around.

According to legend, there are two ghosts or beings that haunt this area. The first is a witch named “Spearfinger.” She was known to have a finger that was made of stone but shaped like a knife. She would lure children who were lost in the woods to her home. Once there, she would rock and lull them to sleep. Once asleep, Spearfinger would cut out the child’s liver. Apparently, livers were a delicacy to Spearfinger.

The second ghost is rumored to be a man who died looking for his lost daughter. He appears to be a friendly ghost who helps those who are lost to safety. Hikers have reported seeing a light that guides them through the forest.

If you are looking for even more scary, there is a camp ground in the area that you can stay overnight.

NEED HIKING GEAR:  Check out the latest must haves

Bloody Lane Trail, Antietam National Battlefield, MD

One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War happened at Antietam National Battlefield in Washington County, MD. Bloody Lane Trail is 1.6 mile trail that travels along this battlefield. Those who have visited this trail say that you can still feel the heaviness of the events that occurred here.

Reported occurrences on this trail are here singing in the field, sounds and smells of gunfire and ball of light floating around with drums heard in the distance. One visitor reported seeing confederate soldiers walking down the path before they disappeared.

Over 23,000 soldiers were wounded, killed or never found. Perhaps they are still wandering the battlefield.

Ghost House Trail, TN

The Ghost House Trail is located in the Big Ridge State Park, about 30 miles from Knoxville, TN. The trail is 1.2 miles and has a few hauntings associated with it.

First up is the Hutchinson Family. Their old farm and cemetery can be found along this trail. This tale starts with the death of Mary Hutchinson. She was young when she fell ill with tuberculosis and died. Upon her passing, it was rumored that cries and screams could be heard however, the more common reports are of the family dog. When Mary passed, visitors reported hearing a dog panting and running around.

The second legend is about Peter Graves. Peter was out hunting for turkeys when he was scalped and killed by a local Native American Tribe. He is said to walk the grounds.

Finally we have the story of a young girl who haunts the gristmill. Her story is quite sad. Her father believed that she was a witch and killed her in the woods by hanging.

If you are up for it, definitely give this trail a go and let us know all about it.

Bartram Trail, Tuskegee National Forest, AL

The Bartram Trail is named after the first native born artist/naturalist, William Bartram. He spent his life collecting and studying fauna and animals, collecting specimens and sketching plants and animals.

The haunting of the trails however are not connected to him. The trail is reported to have strange voices in the woods. Hikers have also reported hearing footsteps coming up behind them and no one was there.

It is not sure what these hauntings are associated with however they may be tied to the following report. In the 1990s, it was believed that there was a group of devil worshipers staying in a house in the forest. The local sherriff’s raided the house and allegedly found several bodies within the house. It is believed the house was burned down by the worshipers to hide a secrete burial ground.

Batona Trail, Pine Barrens, NJ

The Batona Trail is a 50 plus mile trail through the Pine Barrens. This haunted trail is associated with the Jersey Devil. According to folklore that is well over 100 years old, the devil fathered a child with Mother Leeds in 1735. The child was the 13th child to Mother Leeds and when the child was born it was not human.

According to the tale, the child killed the midwife and flew into the woods. It was described as a creature with hooves, wings and a forked tail. It also had a blood curing scream.

For years, the creature would terrorize the area, including children, the townsfolk and animals. There have been over 2000 reported sightings of this creature.

The Batona Trail also is surrounded by a rumor that it contains a portal to another dimension at the abandoned ghost town of Ong’s Hat. The legend states that before the town was abandoned, a couple lived there. One day the wife went out and never returned. The husband went to look for her and he also did not return. Shortly thereafter only one set of skeletal remains were found lending to the idea of a portal.

It is said that a group of professors did go to the area and discovered a door between dimensions however, the professors were not considered reliable due to their quantum physics theories.

Ready for Adventure?

Are you ready to make the jump into haunted hiking trails? All the above choices are a great option if you have a strong will and enjoy connecting with nature, and possibly the supernatural.

If you head out on one of these hikes, I would love to hear about it. If you have any questions or stories you’d like to share, please comment below.

Happy Hiking,

Michelle Louise

e. michellelouise@hikingnewbies.com

Hiking Newbies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases linking to Amazon.com and affiliated links. When you use the links on this page to make a purchase, I may get a small commission. You don’t pay anything extra by purchasing through these links. It’s a win-win all around. See our Full disclosure for more info. Thank you for your support!