Top 10 Most Haunted Forests In the World

Top 10 Most Haunted Forests in the World

It’s not just the elements and the animals you should be wary of. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 most haunted forests in the world.

For this list, we’ll be looking at famous forests from around the world that are allegedly haunted.

#10: Dering Woods

Due to several reports of blood curdling screams at night, the Dering Woods are also known as The Screaming Woods. The forest is located in Pluckley, Kent, which is said to be the most haunted village in Britain. But it’s not just the screams that alarm visitors - some have also reported hearing mysterious whispers, “Lost” style, as well as ghostly footsteps. Highwayman Robert Du Bois was killed there in the 18th century, so maybe it’s him. The woods are world-renowned and have been featured in a number of TV shows, including “Ghost Hunters International” and “Top Gear.”

#9: Pocomoke State Forest

This forest can be found in Maryland situated between the small town of Snow Hill and Pocomoke City. It has quite the reputation in Maryland, and locals warn that the forest should not be entered at night. There have been reports of women screaming and babies crying. It’s also home to some creepy urban legends. They include mysterious fireballs, and various tales of people going missing or winding up dead. One tale starts with a couple running out of gas in the forest at night. The boy stepped out, and the girl fell asleep, despite scratching noises on the car roof. When she woke, she discovered her boyfriend hanging by his feet over the car.

#8: The Island of the Dolls

To those of you who find dolls creepy, look away now! Located south of Mexico City, in the woods and channels of Xochimilco, is an abandoned island littered with dolls. Some of these dolls can be found in the island’s cobwebbed and bug-infested buildings, but most are seen hanging from the trees. The story of the dolls dates back to the 1950s when the landowner, Don Julián Santana Barrera, began hanging them in the trees to ward off spirits. One particular spirit was that of a drowned girl, whom Santana believed was haunting him and his land.

#7: Wychwood Forest

England’s Wychwood Forest has a long and storied history. Located north of Witney, Oxfordshire, it’s believed that the Wychwood area has been inhabited since 3000 BCE and was once a part of an ancient Roman road network. It’s said that the forest is haunted by the ghost of Amy Robsart, the wife of Earl of Essex Robert Dudley. Robsart died under mysterious circumstances, and according to legend Dudley later encountered her ghost in Wychwood Forest. He unexpectedly died just a few days later. Anyone who sees the spirit of Amy Robsart in Wychwood will suffer the same fate.

#6: Dow Hill of Kurseong

Located about 30 kilometers from Darjeeling, India, is a place called the Dow Hill of Kurseong. This location houses beautiful tea plantations, orchid gardens, and a dense forest. However, it supposedly also houses many evil and paranormal entities. These include the ghost of a headless boy, a mysterious red eye that peers at visitors, and a lady clad in grey. The location also contains the Victoria Boys High School, a century-old school that’s said to be haunted with mysterious footsteps and ominous whisperings. This area sounds super creepy, and to be honest, it had us chilled at “headless ghost boy.”

#5: Devil’s Tramping Ground

With a name like Devil’s Tramping Ground, you best believe the place is haunted. This isn’t a forest itself, but a place within a forest. It’s actually a barren circle of ground located in Bear Creek, North Carolina. The Tramping Ground is a popular camping spot, but it’s said to be the location where the Devil comes out of the Earth, plots his schemes, and brings evil into the world - hence the Devil’s Tramping Ground. Of course, the local community has more than its fair share of creepy stories regarding the barren circle, and will tell you that dogs whimper and moan whenever they near it.

#4: Hoia-Baciu Forest

Located to the west of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, this forest is a popular recreational destination, as it is home to trails, a biking park, and locations for airsoft and archery. However, it’s also a popular tourist destination due to its links to the paranormal. The forest is colloquially known as The Bermuda Triangle of Romania due to the range of bizarre occurrences that take place within its boundaries. It was a popular UFO hotspot in the late 60s and early 70s, and modern visitors have reported disembodied screams, ghosts, unexplainable marks and burns on their skin, and feelings of intense anxiety. It is also home to some irregularly-shaped trees - which certainly don’t help with those anxious feelings.

#3: Epping Forest

We’re returning to England yet again for Epping Forest, located between Essex and the Greater London Area. Unfortunately, the forest’s proximity to London has turned it into a crime hotspot. Dozens of people have been killed in the forest throughout the years, highwaymen ran rampant back in the day, and it’s locally known as a burial ground for murder victims. Perhaps it’s this violent history that caused the forest to become haunted. Many people have reported strange noises and ghostly apparitions throughout the years, and the spirit of highwayman Dick Turpin was allegedly spotted by the “Most Haunted” team during a live broadcast in the forest.

#2: Black Forest

The Black Forest isn’t so much a forest as it is an entire mountain range located in the southwest of Germany. Due to its age and wide expanse, the Black Forest has become the subject of numerous urban legends and fairy tales. These include tales of supposed water nymphs, a large gathering of Celtic ghosts in a local graveyard, and an ancient king who lives underwater and drags women into his watery grave. Part of the forest’s creepiness can also be attributed to its thick and dense fir trees which shadow the ground in perpetual darkness.

#1: Freetown State Forest

This 5,000-acre forest can be found in the southeastern portion of Massachusetts. Despite its beauty, the forest has reportedly been linked to cult activity in the past, which includes instances of animal sacrifice and ritualistic murder. It’s also a part of the so-called Bridgewater Triangle, a 200 square mile area that’s allegedly home to various paranormal phenomena. These include sightings of Bigfoot and UFOs, ghosts and poltergeists, various Native American curses, and giant creatures known as thunderbirds. It’s a certifiable hodgepodge of paranormal goings-on, so if that’s your thing, then you owe it to yourself to visit.