Spooky season is our favorite time of year here at Terradrift: Halloween is our favorite holiday, we so appreciate Dia de los Muertos traditions, and frankly, we embody the spirit of the season year-round. So you know we’re always down for a haunted hike, eerie trail and darkly historic adventure. Fortunately, there are plenty to choose from across the U.S. So we rounded up a few for our fellow spooky-season-loving adventurers. Here are 10 haunted hikes from around the States to get your heart pumping (in all the ways).
New York, The Adirondacks: Rattlesnake Mountain
- 2.6 miles, Moderate
Rattlesnake Mountain has long been associated with local legends and tales of hauntings, thanks to the mountain’s name and its proximity to Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain itself is known for its rich maritime history, including over 300 documented shipwrecks. These wrecks, many from the 19th century, are often attributed to the wrath of the “Champlain Witch,” a spectral figure believed to cause sudden storms and rogue waves that led to tragic accidents in the Lake Champlain Region. Visitors have even reported eerie sightings of Champ, the lake’s elusive monster, adding a spooky air to the waters below.
While Rattlesnake Mountain is not directly linked to specific shipwrecks, its vantage point overlooking the lake connects it to these maritime tragedies. The combination of its name, location, and the eerie history of the lake below adds an atmospheric layer to the hiking experience, inviting hikers to reflect on the tales of the past as they enjoy the present-day beauty of the landscape. To add to the atmosphere, these hikes can be done in the evenings when the route offers a great vantage point to watch the moonrise.
Located near Willsboro Bay on Lake Champlain, it’s a relatively short and accessible hike, approximately 2.6 miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of about 720 feet. The trail is considered moderate in difficulty, making it suitable for families and dogs.
Ilwaco, Washington: Northhead Lighthouse Loop
- 0.6 miles, Easy
The Northhead Lighthouse Loop Trail is an easy hike with views of Dead Man’s Hollow and the famous North Head Lighthouse. The trail runs through Cape Disappointment, a place long known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific” because of the many shipwrecks along its coast. On the windy cliffs sits the North Head Lighthouse, which has stood for more than 100 years. From the top, visitors can look out over the ocean where hundreds of ships were lost.
The site is also one of the windiest in the U.S., with gusts over 120 mph and some say those storms have left more than history behind. Local stories tell of the first keeper’s wife, who could not stand the endless winds. In 1923, she jumped to her death from the cliffs. Many believe her spirit still lingers in the keeper’s house, wandering through the halls and braving the winds she once feared.
Breckenridge, Colorado: Section House via Black Powder Pass
- 3.4 miles, Moderate
Description: Perched at 11,481 feet on Boreas Pass above Breckenridge, the Section House is a historic backcountry ski hut managed by the Summit Huts Association and available for winter-only overnight rentals (Nov–Apr). Built in 1882 to house railroad workers maintaining the Denver, South Park & Pacific narrow-gauge line, the hut fell into disrepair after the railway was abandoned in the 1930s before being fully restored in the 1990s.
While today it’s a cozy winter refuge, the Section House carries a hint of haunted history. Local lore suggests the spirits of railroad workers still linger in this remote, windswept outpost—an echo of the grueling winters, railroad accidents and dangerous conditions they endured more than a century ago. Visitors often describe the building’s creaks, groans, and eerie stillness at night as a reminder of its ghostly past.
Section House intersects several trail options including Boreas Pass Road (old railroad route) and Black Powder Pass Summit. The latter is shorter and starts at Section House while the former is more of an overnight trek (21 miles point-to-point) that goes to Section House. In the summer and early fall, drive and park at the trailhead to hike Black Powder Pass from Section House. Or hike (or cross country ski or snowshoe in winter) via Boreas Pass Road and opt to overnight at Section House.
Wolford, Minnesota: Milford Mine Memorial Park Trail
- 1.1 miles, Easy
On February 5, 1924, the Milford Mine, a manganese mine on the Cuyuna Iron Range, was flooded when a collapse connected underground tunnels to Foley Lake. The park features a 1.1-mile trail honoring the victims, and while the primary focus is historical commemoration, the site is also reputed to be haunted, with tales of paranormal activity linked to the tragedy, such as spectral apparitions and sounds of the trapped miners.
The trail features a boardwalk, asphalt sections, and dirt paths. Learn even more about the site at the Soo Line Depot Museum in nearby Crosby.
Hyak, Washington: Snoqualmie Tunnel
- 2-4+ miles, Easy
The Snoqualmie Tunnel is 2+ miles of darkness (there and back is 4+ miles). Now part of the 250-mile Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, the tunnel was once used for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in the early 1910s, and was abandoned in 1980. Hikers, bikers, and joggers are encouraged to use headlamps or bring flashlights. It can often be several degrees cooler, so layers (or even gloves and hats) are encouraged. It’s closed between November and May, allegedly not just because of snow, but because dangerous icicles can form and drop down on tunnel-crossers.
There are no specific tales of hauntings, but because you’re walking along 2.3 miles of almost complete darkness, and the fact that it’s quite damp in the tunnel–there is usually water dripping from the ceiling into puddles on the ground–and the temperature is several degrees cooler in the tunnel than outside, there’s certainly a spooky chill in the air. It’s a hike not for the faint of heart! Pro tip: wear reflective clothing so cyclists riding through the tunnel can see you.
Greenwell Springs, Louisiana: Frenchtown Conservation Area
- 1-3+ miles, Easy
Known for a train derailment that resulted in the loss of numerous lives that still haunt the tracks to this day, Frenchtown Road has also purportedly been home to witchcraft and occult practices, mysterious light orbs, ghostly apparitions and whispering voices that can’t be explained. In fact, it’s a popular destination for paranormal investigators. The area was originally a small settlement of families, but the land was donated to the East Baton Rouge Parish Park system to develop as a conservation/nature reserve to increase green infrastructure to the area along the Amite River.
There are over 3 miles of primitive hiking trails with varied terrain, scenic views–including alongside the spooky railroad tracks–and beach access to the river among the 495 acres of Bottomland Hardwood Forest habitat. As you hike, listen for the ghostly train whistle…
North Central Cascades, Washington: Monte Cristo Trail
- 8.7 Miles, Moderate
In Washington’s North Central Cascades, an easy to moderate 8-mile (round-trip) trek mostly along an abandoned railroad grade leads hikers to the PNW gold rush era ghost town of Monte Cristo. Recognized as one of the most haunted hikes in the Northwest, Monte Cristo began as a mining camp in 1889, reached a peak population of just over 1,000 residents in 1894, and met its demise in 1904 when mining operations were shuttered. Known as the Ghost Town for Hikers, the site now has a reputation for paranormal activity. Brave souls have reported hearing ghostly voices, experiencing unexplained cold spots, hearing the sounds of pick axes and wood chopping, and more.
Please be respectful of the history here and leave all mining equipment in peace…lest you invoke the spirits of the dead! You can camp overnight at backcountry sites along the trail, too, if you’re brave enough.
Meriden, Connecticut: Hanging Hills
- 4.4 Miles, Moderate
From the book Haunted USA by Heather Alexander: “If you ever go hiking in the Hanging Hills, volcanic rocky ridges in south central Connecticut, be very careful. A mysterious black dog is said to roam the wooded trails. This ghostly canine will not chase or bite you, but the mere sight of it can be deadly! As the legend goes, seeing this dog once will bring you joy. If you see it twice, you’ll be overwhelmed with sadness. And if you’re unlucky enough to see it three times, you will die.”
This somewhat challenging hike leads through forest, up steep climbs and loose rock to an impressive overlook at West Peak in Hubbard Park and onward along rocky ledges to looming Castle Craig, a historic stone tower atop East Peak. The trail offers some of the best views of the entire New England National Scenic Trail in Connecticut. It’s no easy Sunday stroll, but the hike is well worth the effort for the expansive views of the Merimere Reservoir.
Boise, Idaho: The Old Penitentiary Trailhead/Table Rock Trail
- 3.7 Miles, Moderate
The Table Rock Trail in Boise is a popular roundtrip hike that leads to a cross at the summit of a flattop mesa, offering panoramic views of the city and valley below. It’s a moderate trail that’s accessible from the Old Idaho Penitentiary, which is considered one of the most haunted places in Idaho with a history of over 120 fatalities and numerous reports of paranormal activity, including unexplained sounds, shadowy figures, and physical sensations like being touched or seeing objects move. During its 101 years of operation, the site housed some of the West’s most notorious criminals. Cemetery tours and night tours add extra fright factors at the prison over the fall and Halloween season, but hikers can also do guided tours or self-guided experiences if they dare.
Sedona, Arizona: Boynton Canyon Trail
- 6.6 miles, Moderate
Sedona may be best known for its red rock vistas and wellness escapes, but beyond the vortexes, spas and relaxing resorts lies a lesser-known side of the destination, one filled with ghost towns, pioneer cemeteries, UFO sightings, and haunted highways.
For hikers, Boynton Canyon Trail is where whispers of ancient spirits and paranormal encounters have made it one of the area’s most mysterious treks. Long revered by Native American communities, the canyon is home to ancient cliff dwellings and burial grounds and is considered one of Sedona’s powerful energy vortex sites. Stories of shadowy figures and otherworldly energy have long surrounded this red rock path, giving thrill seekers another way to experience Sedona’s supernatural landscape.
Bottom Line
Across the country there are plenty of haunted, spooky, and mysterious trail to explore; we’ve barely scratched the surface. Do you have a favorite trail surrounded by lore? Share it in the comments! Then wander on and explore eerie places any time of year. Don’t forget the 10 essentials and to leave no trace!
