Top 10 Haunted Forests in the World
Walking into the woods at night can be scary, but when the woods are said to be haunted, few dare to venture in. Woods and forests are infamous for hiding rich history of Battlefields, buried treasures, Native burial grounds, crimes, murders, hangings, suicides, cult sacrifices, and no wonder what; which make them packed with different emotions and energies. And while most spooky moments can be chalked up to our campfire imaginations running wild, some places around the world carry legitimately terrifying histories that are much harder to brush off. From woods with high-pitched screams echoing through the trees to the tragic site of thousands of deaths, these are the top 10 forests that are certainly not for the faint of heart.
10. Freetown-Fall River State Forest, USA
The Freetown State Forest is a part of “Bridgewater Triangle,” an area in southeastern Massachusetts tormented with paranormal activity — roaming specters, UFO encounters, and even Bigfoot sightings.
So what is ‘Bridgewater Triangle’? It is an area of about 200 square miles within southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. Since colonial times the area has been a site of alleged paranormal phenomena, ranging from UFO and “black helicopter” sightings, to poltergeists and orbs, balls of fire and other spectral phenomena, various “bigfoot” sightings, giant snakes and “Thunderbirds”, as well as it is a prominent site of cattle mutilation.
Although known for centuries as an area of unusual and unexplained activity, the specific boundaries of the Bridgewater Triangle were first defined by cryptozoologist Loren Coleman in his book Mysterious America. The Triangle encompasses several towns which are booming with unexplained phenomena, but it is the Freetown State Forest that hosts the bulk of the paranormal activities.
Some believe that the forest’s haunted history dates back to colonial times, when settlers purchased the land and sacred burial grounds from the Wampanoag Tribe. The transaction is said to have cursed the area, which has since been the site of satanic cult rituals and murders. Perhaps the most famous case involving the forest revolved around a local pimp and the killing of several local prostitutes. In the late seventies and early eighties Carl Drew ran his business out of Fall River and was implicated in the murder of at least three women under him. One of the victims was dumped in the forest and the initial investigation pointed to more cult activity. Several witness stepped forward saying Drew was the leader of a satanic cult and that the killings had been part of his need for human sacrifice.
Nowadays, according to numerous hikers, they have come across satanic ritual sites, and some even reported to have witnessed satanic activity within the park. Locals have reported instances of animal mutilation and creatures stalking hikers.
9. Black Forest, Germany
The name of this forest already sounds mysterious, but the Brothers Grimm solidified its haunted reputation by using it as the setting for many of their fairy tales, like Hansel and Gretel. Nestled in southwestern Germany and bordered by the Rhine River, hardly any sunlight breaks through the dense fir trees of the Black Forest, and the myths surrounding these woods are more fantastical than paranormal: A headless horseman riding on a great white steed, a king who kidnaps women to take them to his underwater palace where he lives among the nymphs, friendly dwarves and lurking werewolves. The book, Necromancer, first published in 1794 more widely documents the adult tale of hauntings, killings, and dark magic in this forest.
The name and it’s mythical environment makes it an ideal playground for mythological creatures; and even the region is known for the unique way in which its people celebrate carnival — by dressing up like witches, demons, scary spirits and animals.
8. Aokigahara, Japan
Sitting on the northwestern side of Mount Fuji, Aokigahara Forest more commonly known as “Suicide Forest” is the definition of tragic beauty. Sometimes referred to as the Sea of Trees, it has been the site of numerous suicides, dating all the way back to the mid-1900s and can be easily considered as one of the most eeriest places in the world. It is the world’s second-most popular site for suicides, just after Golden Gate Bridge; in 2010 alone, 247 people attempted to take their own lives, and 54 of them were unfortunately successful.
It’s rumored that large underground iron deposits interfere with compasses, setting walkers forth on the wrong paths. Some blame this trend on the forest’s association with demons in Japanese mythology. Others point towards the density of the trees, which muffles sound and makes it easy to get lost. All these makes it a hotbed of paranormal activity and locals claim to hear spirits scream through the night. Many even considers Aokigahara as Japan’s most haunted spot. But even if you don’t believe in ghosts, you’re likely to get spooked by the sprinkling of clothing, letters and everyday items left throughout the labyrinthine woods which would will leave you in a cold sweat.
7. Wychwood Forest, England
A hand reaching out to touch the shoulder of a solitary person. A horse-drawn cart carrying a couple with two sobbing children. These are the reports out of Wychwood Forest, once part of larger royal hunting grounds in Oxfordshire. Most compelling is the case of Amy Robsart, the wife of the Earl of Leicester. She mysteriously died of a broken neck, confronted her husband as a ghost while he was hunting in Wychwood, and predicted he would join her in 10 days — which he did after falling ill. Now, legend has it that her ghost has the same effect on all who come across it in the forest to this day.
6. Devil’s Tramping Ground, USA
The name says it all — this mysterious, round patch of barren soil resides deep in the North Carolina woods, about 50 miles south of Greensboro. Till date, no vegetation has ever grown in this mysterious 40-foot ring. According to a legend that dates back to when Chatham County (where the forest is located) was founded, this circle is where the devil is said to come out at night to do his pacing and thinking. It’s for that reason that nothing will grow there ever, even animals refuses to cross its path.
The area has built up an eerie reputation over the years, with people claiming to see red eyes glowing there at night and placing their belongings in the circle in the evening, only to find them thrown back out the next morning. The site has also been linked to several UFO landings and even the North Carolina State Department of Agriculture has supposedly taken samples of the soil and has yet to come up with an explanation for why the patch is devoid of growth.
5. Isla de las Munecas, Mexico
Also known as the doll island, it is located near Mexico City and is covered in dolls that hang from trees. The island’s only inhabitant and caretaker, Don Julian Santana, discovered the body of a girl in one of its canals more than 50 years ago. He found a doll floating in the same water and, in tribute, hung it on a tree — the first of thousands of dolls he would string up until 2001, when he drowned in the very same canal and in the very same spot where the girl died. Some believe the dolls, many of which are missing limbs, are evil; others believe they safeguard the island.
Today, the island has become a popular tourist destination. Visitors claim that the dolls move their eyes, heads, and limbs, and that they’re possessed by spirits. Even the famous paranormal investigation group, the Ghost Adventures crew found some very credible evidences to support the existence of paranormal in the island and specifically inside the dolls.
4. Epping Forest, England
The size and density of Epping Forest have made it a popular hideout for criminals and an infamous burial spot for bodies. Stretching from east London to Essex, this 6,000-acre Forest has served as the hideout for cop killer Harry Roberts, notorious highwayman Dick Turpin back in the 18th century who committed at least one of the murders here and has also been the hiding place for murder victims, among those the children targeted by pedophile & murderer Ronald Jebson.
The massive forest covered with thick trees haven’t been cut in over 100 years, due to the Epping Forest Act of 1878. If the trees aren’t enough to spook you, chances are the ghosts, spirits, or muffled drum noises of deceased soldiers that visitors have reported will do the trick. Plus, cars parked on nearby Hangman’s Hill are said to roll uphill when parked in neutral. An episode of the British Living TV show attempted to find the ghost of Turpin, but the team ended up lost themselves — perhaps a prank of the elusive spirit.
3. Dow Hill Forest, India
Located in the West Bengal town of Kurseong, the Dow Hill Victoria Boys’ School established in the late 19th century is known as one of the most haunted places in India. Locals claim to hear footsteps echoing through the halls, even when the school is closed from December to March. While the school’s hallways are said to be filled with the sound of footsteps, the forest is even creepier. Rumor has it that it has seen multiple murders, and woodcutters have reported sightings of a headless boy walking along a road that stretches between the school and forest, thus perfectly named as the Death Road.
2. Old House Woods, USA
Mathews is a small county that still doesn’t have traffic signal lights but in the 1600s, it was a very important place. It was the home of a very active port during the pre- Revolutionary, Revolutionary and Civil War eras. With so much history, it is no wonder that the woods and the nearby beach are said to be so haunted.
This 50-acre forest, near the Chesapeake Bay, is a refuge for all those spirits of 18th-century British soldiers and pirates who once passed through the nearby historic port town and may have left buried chests of treasure in its soft dirt.
At the center of the woods, off Haven Beach Road, was a solitary and dilapidated Colonial homestead that mysteriously caught fire but put itself out. Then a few years later, another fire burned it down for good and today the house is no more there. Of all the sightings here, perhaps the most intriguing was reported by a fisherman on Whites Creek in the 19th century, when a ship silently plying the creek, continued over the beach, and suddenly disappeared into the woods.
Apparently, the Old House Woods is now privately owned and the owner, or a person living close to it will call the cops if you trespass.
1.Hoia-Baciu Woods, Romania
From the moment a military technician captured a photograph of a UFO hovering over the forest in a part known as “the clearing” in 1968, the forest has gained paranormal notoriety around the world. The area is infamously known as the “Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania,” as some believe it to be a portal that causes visitors to disappear.
People who have successfully passed through the forest reported rashes, nausea, and feelings of anxiety. Some researchers have claimed that this forest is a portal to another dimension or spirit world. Locals warn that if you enter the forest, you may never return. Destination Truth, a channel show decided to go to the Forest and investigate. What they found was a place with an abundance of paranormal activities. Their cameraman was attacked by some evil force and he suffered temporary hearing loss along with cuts and a headache. Even the famous paranormal investigation group, the Ghost Adventures Crew found some very promising evidences to further support these claims.
The clearing inside the forest has stumped visitors, locals, and even scientists for decades. It’s a spot where nothing grows and nothing has ever grown, according to official records. What’s even weirder, is that the trees that do grow in the forest grow in odd patterns — zigzags and spirals that no one has ever been able to explain.
So these are the top 10 haunted forests in the world. For more informational pictures, you should watch the video on YouTube. And you can tweet me your strangeness here.
