Ghost stories have been a campfire staple for hundreds of years, but what if the stories weren’t just stories, and the ghosts were actually right behind you as you tell yourself the story isn’t real? If you happen to be staying at one of these eight reportedly haunted campgrounds in California, you might just have to get into the spirit of things!
1. Fernwood Campground – Big Sur
For many years, the Esalen Indians considered this area sacred, and today it stands as a commercial campground. Between two and three in the morning, employees and guests have seen a ghost of an Indian wearing a corn mask near the cabins.
2. Lake Morena Campground – San Diego
On the remote eastern slope of the Laguna Mountains, at least one campground is haunted in the bounds of this park. The apparition of a young woman in a long white dress has been seen several times. Campers have heard her singing and laughing in the distance and have also heard heavy footsteps around their tents.
3. Crystal Lake Campground – Angeles National Forest
The last California grizzly bear was supposedly hunted and killed in 1922. However, the history of Crystal Lake tells quite a different tale. In 1934 the Majors family was attacked and killed by a grizzly and the family’s ghosts supposedly haunt Crystal Lake.
4. Calico Ghost Town – Yermo
Calico is an old West mining town that has been around since 1881 during the largest silver strike in California. It is one of the most haunted locations in California, with many types of ghosts and paranormal phenomenon spotted. Calico has Shadow people, orbs, full-bodied apparitions, and ghost lights. The campground is even located next to the cemetery!
5. Mount Madonna State Park – Gilroy
About twelve miles west of the town of Gilroy is the Mount Madonna County Park. It’s said that the ghost of Sarah Miller, the daughter of one of Gilroy’s founders Henry Miller, haunts the land that used to be owned by her family.
6. Vallecito County Park – San Diego
The campground is located in the Anza Borrego desert. This area has been known to have ghosts, spirits, cryptids, ghost lights, and treasure.
7. Humboldt Redwoods State Park
This is an ancient forest protected by the spirits of the Native American Peoples that once lived there. This area of California has numerous Big Foot sightings every year.
8. Jack London State Park – Sonoma Valley
Wolf House was once one of the most unusual houses in the state of California. Although Wolf House is gone… spirits remain there. In years past, before the Jack London State Park was closed after dark, visitors who came to Wolf House at night reported hearing strange sounds and experiencing odd things among the ruins. They often claimed to be touched by unseen hands or to hear footsteps climbing stairs that burned long ago. Occasionally, visitors reported seeing apparitions who bore no resemblance to anyone associated with Wolf House. Stories began to be told about these strange spirits. The legends claimed they were the ghosts of characters from London’s stories.
If you’re brave enough to visit one of these haunted campgrounds in California, tell us about your experience!
Featured Image from Azura Ambe/Unsplash
