No wonder so many haunted forests and creepy locations found in the wilderness often become the typical setting of many horror movies. Blame it on the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tales or legends of the Blair Witch, but forests have always had that mysterious, eerie, even creepy feel to them. In fairy tales heard in childhood, forests have always been the homes of evil witches, wraiths, ravenous wolves, and other dangerous predators.
Many of us learned the lesson in Little Red Riding Hood and grew up fearing creepy forests and the dangers lurking in the woods. Yet, even now, all grown up, very few would be willing to step foot into a creepy forest at night as safety and self-defense instincts would kick in. However, scary forests don’t only exist in fairy tales, myths, and in our imaginations. While any forest could be deemed creepy at night, numerous spooky forests worldwide fill us with fear no matter the time of the day.
Some forests are known for their eerie trunk appearance. Others are shrouded in mysterious legends or carry a disturbing history. And in some, people report feeling a ghostly presence or hearing and seeing paranormal phenomena. Below, we’ve compiled a list of such forests that ignite fear in many. What is your depiction of a creepy forest? Would you dare to step foot into any of the woods below? Let us know! Also, upvote the scary forest that spooked you the most!
#1 The Island Of The Dolls, Xochimilco, Mexico
Isla de las Munecas, or the Island of the Dolls, in Xochimilco, has gained some internet renown despite being a World Heritage site. The location, obscured by the area’s numerous canals, is well-known for the hundreds of dolls – and doll parts – hanging from trees and dispersed over the grass. The chinampa, akin to an artificial island, was once home to Julian Santa Barrera, who is now deceased. According to National Geographic, Barrera gathered and displayed the toys to fend off evil spirits after discovering a deceased girl’s body in a nearby canal. The drowned girl’s soul is thought to still haunt the island today. According to local lore, dolls have been seen moving their heads and arms, opening their eyes, and whispering to one another.
#2 Hoia-Baciu Forest, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Hoia Baciu Forest, located close to the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca, is frequently linked to paranormal phenomena and is known as the “Bermuda Triangle” of Romania. Thousands of people claim to have experienced various mysterious symptoms after entering, ranging from headache to nausea. It’s unknown if this is due to suggestion or actual unfathomable causes. Furthermore, several reports of paranormal activity, inexplicable occurrences, and UFO encounters were documented. Another ‘fun’ fact about the Hoia Baciu Forest is that there’s a perfect circle inside the forest in which no trees or plants grow.
#3 The Lady In The Woods, Kent, England
The mysterious wood carving at Otterden, Kent, holds a world of mystery in its perplexing visage. Nearly nine feet tall and carved from a single piece of oak, this expressionistic wooden sculpture of a pregnant lady is a startling discovery for hikers. A fog of mystery surrounds the artwork, which is left standing by itself just off a public footpath. No one knows who the artist was or how long the wooden lady has been here.
#4 Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Yosemite National Park is well-known for its magnificent waterfalls and enormous sequoia groves. Still, there are also parts of the park that could cause you to experience different kinds of goosebumps. For instance, some guests who have trekked the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead have clearly heard someone crying. According to Native American folklore, the cries are from a kid who drowned in neighboring Grouse Lake. Apparently, the ghost is asking for help, but any hikers who enter the lake will be sucked under and drown. Another Native American myth holds that a wind of evil haunts some of the park’s waterfalls, luring unsuspecting bystanders to the brink before sweeping them off the cliff.
#5 Epping Forest, Essex, England
The 6,000-acre Epping Forest, which stretches from east London to Essex, has served as the backdrop for real and debatably real atrocities. It has long served as the hiding place for criminals or a location to bury their slain victims. Sadly, approximately a dozen victims have been found here in the past 50 years. An infamous highwayman named Dick Turbin was responsible for at least one homicide in the forest itself. As a result of laws protecting the area, many of the trees here haven’t been cut in almost 150 years, giving them oddly distorted shapes. This is one hair-raising trip through the woods, especially considering the reported eerie sounds and ghost sightings.
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#6 Highgate Cemetery, London, U.K.
Karl Marx and Douglas Adams are among the famous people buried in this beautiful and verdant north London park, which served as Kingstead Churchyard in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Even though it is still one of London’s least visited attractions, those who enter its gates do so in search of famous gravestones and ghostly encounters. The eerie site was built in the middle of the 1800s but was soon abandoned and uncared for after the end of World War II. Then, in the 1970s, Highgate rose in popularity due to being used as a background for several horror films. Many visitors reported seeing a strange creature hovering over the graves, and reports of grave robbery started to surface in the headlines. The so-called vampire hunters would steal the corpses and move them to odd locations or open tombs to hammer wooden stakes into the corpses’ chests.
#7 Constitution Lakes Park, Georgia, USA
Constitution Lakes Park in Atlanta is a distinctive natural refuge with wetlands, wildlife, and creepy art. Before it closed 50 years ago, a brick company had previously stood there. After purchasing the property, DeKalb County paved boardwalks and trails around the ponds. “Doll’s Head” trail path, the most famous of the tracks, is located in the center of the park and is lined with abandoned doll parts, bricks, and other items found all over the park.
#8 Aokigahara Forest, Japan
The forest, also known as Suicide Forest or the Sea of Trees, is unfortunately well-known due to many souls not intending to return, having chosen it as their ultimate resting place. Despite being a popular tourist site because of its many cold caverns and peaceful pathways, its reputation is primarily based on macabre factors. The police set up several signs throughout the forest with messages like, “Your life is a precious gift from your parents,” and “Please consult the police before you decide to die!” to persuade people to change their minds. Unfortunately, they are not as effective if we consider that the Golden Gate Bridge is the most “popular” suicide spot in the world, while the Aokigahara Forest is the second and first in Japan.
#9 Parkland Walk, London, U.K.
Following the trail of an old metro line, this scenic path in London harbors a sinister feel to it. Old brick stands forth like some abandoned fort while gnarled trees sag overhead. The enigmatic trail has been the subject of local tales, with kids daring one another to walk along it in the dark. One local artist even went so far as to put a creepy-looking statue of a spriggan, or wood spirit, emerging from one of the old station alcoves, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
#10 The Black Forest, Germany
Several legends associated with these dense, gloomy woods served as the setting for the frightening Grimm Brothers’ fairytales like Hansel and Gretel. In addition to headless horsemen, nymphs that live underwater, and werewolves, Germany’s Schwarzwald has served as the fictional setting for various fantastical tales. These are honored at the region’s distinctive Carnival celebrations, where participants dress as terrifying creatures and demons.
