10 Eerie Southern Hikes with Haunting Lore
Whether you believe in spirits or just love a little local lore, these 10 haunted hikes and eerie walks throughout the South mix fresh air and spectacular views with goosebumps and unexplained sightings. Image: Brian Stansberry / Wikimedia Commons
Who needs a haunted house when the whole forest is watching? Across the South, trails wind past ghost towns, battle sites, haunted bridges, and the ruins of residents that never quite left. Some spots offer postcard views; others feel heavy before you even read the trailhead plaque. Here are 10 haunted hiking trails where the local lore will have you glancing over your shoulder and picking up the pace.
Corpsewood Manor | Summerville, GA
Tucked away in the North Georgia woods, Corpsewood Manor was built in the late 1970s by Dr. Charles Scudder and his partner Joseph Odom as their dream estate. But it turned into something darker when, in December 1982, two acquaintances violently murdered them during what was supposed to be a celebration. Today, the mansion lies in ruin. Vines climb its brick skeletons, and remnants of opulence and grandeur create an eerier air around brave explorers.
To lighten the mood a bit, visit famous Folk Artist and Sculptor Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden (also in Summerville), which is a whimsical, fun foray after a chilling hike.
Ghost House Trail | Big Ridge State Park, TN
A short, seemingly innocent loop in Union County, Tennessee, hides a heavy history. The Ghost House Trail winds past the ruins of an 1800s homestead and a family cemetery where the Hutchesons are buried. Legend says you might hear the faint sound of crying or the bark of their ghost dog.
The shaded trail feels ordinary until it doesn’t: cold pockets of air, whispers when the wind stops, the unmistakable sense of being watched. In the 1920s, ghost sightings were said to have become so common near the Hutchesons’ house that many neighbors moved away. Go near dusk if you dare, but know that park gates close before nightfall — maybe for a reason.
Old Zoo Nature Trails | Cisco, TX
A century ago, during an oil boom, some locals came together to establish a zoo in Cisco, TX. However, it wasn’t long before animals began dying or escaping mysteriously. It’s been closed for over 80 years, but you can walk through its spooky history. Rusting animal enclosures, empty swimming-pool shells once touted as “the world’s largest concrete pool,” and thickening woods give this short hike serious off-kilter vibes. The path is relatively easy, with some steep steps and rock scrambles. Keep an eye out for the remains of old zoo cages and creek views beneath the trees. At dusk, especially, it feels as though someone — or something — is still watching. Check it out.
Witch Dance | Natchez Trace Parkway, MS
A scenic pull-off along one of the South’s most celebrated parkways hides the darker legend of Witch Dance. Here, witches were said to gather under the moon, dancing so wildly that grass never grew where their feet fell. The bald patches remain, even after centuries. Today, the trail winds through quiet pine forest, but hikers often feel watched or hear laughter carried on the wind. Walk the loop at sunset, and you’ll understand why travelers still mark this spot, whispering, “Witch Dance,” as they pass.
Bluff Mountain | Rockbridge County, VA
Bluff Mountain, a section of the Appalachian Trail near Buena Vista and Lexington, VA, is often recognized as the most haunted trail in the United States. The moderate four-mile hike is all rolling hills and postcard views until you learn a story behind it. In 1891, a four-year-old boy named Ottie Cline Powell wandered away from a school field trip. His tiny body was found months later, miles up Bluff Mountain.
Today, a short, steep hike leads to a monument marking the spot, and hikers often mention strange feelings near it: cold air in warm weather, soft footsteps behind them, or a child’s giggle carried on the wind. Some have left toys at his grave, which have disappeared, and some report seeing a boy while hiking. The view from the summit is stunning. The silence there, knowing this story? Not so much.
Manchac Swamp | Frenier, LA (near New Orleans)
Boardwalk trails weave through cypress trees and Spanish moss, where the Manchac Swamp hums with life … and legend. In 1915, a hoodoo priestess named Julia Brown cursed the town, singing, “When I die, I’ll take the whole town with me.” The day she was buried, a hurricane wiped Frenier off the map. Locals still hear her song in the wind and swear shadowy figures drift between the trees. It’s steamy, otherworldly, and almost too still. Paddle or walk it at twilight, and you’ll understand why locals say: Don’t mock Julia’s name aloud. Here’s a look at a kayak tour.
@uponarriving We visited the most haunted swamp in America — in kayaks. This is how it went… #NewOrleans #Swamp #Haunted #SwampKayak #Kayaking #Outdoors #Louisiana #SpookyTravel #WitchyVibes #SouthernGothic # #GhostTour #Paranormal #HiddenAmerica ♬ original sound – Daniel | UponArriving
Tuberculosis Hospital | Mammoth Cave, KY
In the 1840s, a desperate doctor turned part of Mammoth Cave into a tuberculosis sanatorium, believing the cave’s still air could heal. It didn’t. Patients wasted away by lantern light, their coughing echoing through stone halls. Today, you can hike to the crumbling “TB huts” on guided subterranean tours — cool, damp, and eerily quiet except for the occasional drip. Rangers say visitors sometimes hear that same rasping cough or spot a flicker of lamplight where no one stands.
Poinsett Bridge | Landrum, SC
South Carolina’s oldest bridge (and one of the oldest remaining in the Southeast) is a hauntingly beautiful 1820 stone arch that looks plucked from a gothic fairy tale. Visitors swear they’ve heard phantom screams under Poinsett Bridge and seen a misty figure glide across the creek. Some blame the many builders who fell ill during construction. (The one who died is said to be buried beneath the bridge.) Others blame a traveler who never made it home. The lush .8-mile forest trail to reach it is peaceful enough in daylight, but as shadows stretch across the mossy stones, some say the air grows thick or chilly.
The TNT Area & Mothman Lair | Point Pleasant, WV
The old World War II munitions bunkers outside Point Pleasant, WV, are now overgrown by forest. Locals know them as the TNT Area, and this is Mothman territory. It was here, among decaying concrete domes, that witnesses first saw the red-eyed creature in 1966. Today, the trails are quiet except for birds and the occasional rustle. But hikers say unexplained things are afoot. Many report seeing glowing orbs in the trees and experiencing sudden gusts with no apparent wind. It’s part wildlife refuge, part urban legend playground. Bring a flashlight, keep your wits, and maybe skip the urge to peek inside every dark bunker.
Doll’s Head Trail | Near Atlanta, GA
This hike through a reclaimed wetlands park feels more like wandering through an artist’s fever dream. Scattered among the boardwalks and paths are doll heads, limbs, and found objects assembled into haunting sculptures. Self-employed carpenter Joel Slatton made Doll’s Head Trail in 2011 to inspire local conservation efforts at Constitution Lakes Park in DeKalb County. It began as a quirky art project, but something about dismembered dolls in the wild always feels unsettling. It’s creepy, clever, and deeply Southern — a mix of swampy land and forgotten childhood.
Happy (haunted) trails!
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Zoe Yarborough
Zoe is a StyleBlueprint staff writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant of eleven years. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.