Strange Happenings
In today’s modern era, the thought of people disappearing without a trace is quite scary and unexpected. But in national parks and trails across the world, this is a common occurrence. Whether they have a haunting origin or just a surprising number of missing people, here are 20 trails you’d be better off avoiding.
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1. Aokigahara Forest
This forest, located in Japan, has a very troubling history and purpose. The sea of trees has been known to take 30 to 100 people annually, and most of them go there willingly with the express intention of disappearing forever.
2. Pacific Crest Trail
This stunning trail is a 4.2-kilometer hike nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges along the Pacific coast. Despite the plentiful infrastructure and national recognition, hikers have disappeared without a trace, often surrounded by strange circumstances. Three hikers in particular—Chris, David, and Kris—have had a major impact on the region after they vanished.
3. Overland Track
This Australian bushwalking track offers stunning views of Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. However, people have been known to vanish here. Most notorious is the case of Celine Cremer, who suddenly disappeared despite living in Tasmania for months.
4. Chibichiri Cave
This natural cave in Okinawa is a haunting site. It was used by World War II survivors, who sought refuge in its 100-foot depth. However, violence erupted within this cave, with many of the soldiers succumbing to strange and mysterious conclusions.
5. Hoia Baciu
This forest in Romania hosts numerous trails for those that dare wander its woodlands. Considered one of the most haunted forests, it is plagued by the legend of a girl who entered and disappeared for years before reemerging with amnesia.
6. Appalachian Trail
Throughout the United States, the Appalachian Trail is known for vanishing people. It has reached the point where experts have tried to explain the frequency of disappearances through weather patterns, rugged terrain, and even emotional factors like a loss of motivation.
7. Mount Rainier
Four hundred people to date have gone missing on the trails of Mount Rainier, which is a national park located in Washington State. These disappearances have been occurring since 1989, and while some attribute it to the snow, many of the cases remain unsolved, filling locals with a sense of dread.
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8. Kalalau Trail
Within the Na Pali Coast of Kauai in Hawaii is an 11-mile trail that is as beautiful as it is dangerous. In fact, several young men have disappeared while embarking on this trail, most of them fit and well-equipped for the rugged terrain.
9. The Devil’s Path
While New York is an urban pinnacle, it is also host to one of the most mysterious and dangerous trails in North America. Appropriately named the Devil’s Path, many officials and expert hikers caution against it. Due to its many plunges and peaks, it is considered quite risky.
10. Mount Hua Shan
This trail, located in China, is made up mostly of wooden boards along deep cliff drops. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that numerous people go missing here every year.
11. Merced Pass
Merced Pass is one of the many mysterious trails scattered across Yosemite National Park in California. Despite the park’s high profile and popularity, there has been a recent spike in disappearances, with 33 people vanishing since 2017.
12. Kokoda Trail
In the isolated paradise of Papua New Guinea lies the Kokoda Trail, a 96-kilometer track that many have failed to overcome. It is considered an intense mental challenge, so it comes as no surprise that many were never seen again after attempting the hike.
13. Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are huge, unbelievably so, as they encompass a staggering 415,000 square mile range. However, many outdoor enthusiasts find themselves unprepared for the ruggedness and difficulty of the trails. Notably, there have been many supernatural encounters reported within these parks.
14. Bennington Triangle
The Bennington Triangle is more of a region than a fixed trail. Located in Southwestern Vermont, this area has led to multiple disappearances and is haunted by strange occurrences. Many hikers report strange lights, loud crashes, and a dreadfully thick atmosphere looming over the land.
15. Dyatlov Pass
No one has gone missing at Dyatlov Pass in Russia. Instead, this trail is on the list for a far more terrifying reason. An incredibly strange event happened here, leading to the passing of multiple hikers. What makes it so eerie was the evidence of extra-terrestrial or even monstrous involvement. There are many deep dives available online explaining the strange, out-of-this-world circumstances surrounding the pass.
AnonymousUnknown author / Soviet investigators on Wikimedia
16. Nankoweap Trail
In the United States, Grand Canyon National Park is responsible for the most disappearances, with at least 1,100 reported cases since 2018 alone. The aptly named Nankoweap Trail has contributed to these losses, as it is the most difficult and daunting track in the canyon.
17. Old Ghost Road
Located in beautiful New Zealand, you wouldn’t think this trail was haunted at first sight. However, it gets its name from the strange reports of hikers feeling followed and seeing shadowy figures darting across the land. Creepy stuff!
18. Drakensberg Mountains
Nestled in South Africa are the Drakensberg Mountains, which are responsible for the vanishing of several hikers. Despite strenuous search and rescue attempts, most of these hikers remain missing without a trace to this day.
19. Pine Barrens
The Pine Barrens in New Jersey have a haunting history and are considered the home of a cryptid known as the Jersey Devil. With that in mind, it may seem unsurprising that the area is connected with numerous missing people, including a recent incident where a disabled woman’s car was found empty along the woods.
20. Mount Everest
Many say Mount Everest is haunted by those who failed to traverse its icy peaks. Whether it be sightings of Yetis or the many remnants of those left behind, this is one trail that has led to the tragic vanishing of many from across the globe. Unlike other trails on this list, the reasoning and results of these disappearances are a bit clearer.
