This Mysterious Forest With Haunted Hikes Is One Of America's Best Halloween Destinations

With Halloween fast approaching, lovers of the spooky and supernatural are coming out in full force. But along with haunted houses, costume parties, and trick-or-treating, there's one more way to enjoy the best of the spooky season and still embrace a touch of adventure. From joining paranormal investigations to visiting horror movie filming locations, and spending the night at spooky hotels, there are plenty of eerie destinations dotted across the U.S. to help you get your Halloween fill.

One of these chilling spots is the much-discussed (and feared) Pine Barrens — aka, one of the most haunted forests in the country. Covering most of southern New Jersey, the vast region spans over 1 million acres and is known for its mysterious legends and supernatural occurrences. Boasting numerous ghost towns with a dark history, abandoned settlements, and unexplained phenomena, the area is probably best known for being the stomping grounds of the state's most popular urban legend: The Jersey Devil, a mythical creature that has sparked fear in locals for centuries.

With that in mind, whether you're hoping to meet ghostly apparitions or hunting for otherworldly creatures, the Pine Barrens provide the perfect backdrop for some spine-tingling Halloween adventures in the great outdoors.

The Pine Barrens offers several haunted trails for those brave enough to explore. One of these is the Batona Trail. Short for "back to nature," the trek spans over 50 miles through the heart of the Pine Barrens, and offers the perfect mix of natural beauty and supernatural mystery.

Starting at the northernmost point of the walk, you'll come across the abandoned town of Ong's Hat, rumored to house a portal to another dimension. The town's unusual name reportedly comes from a local resident named Ong who was known for his way with women. Legend has it that, after a spurned lover stomped on his hat, Ong angrily threw it into a tree where it stayed for years. Today, all that's left is a few dilapidated structures and an unearthly sensation that something is watching you from just beyond the tree line.

Trek deeper into the Pine Barrens — across the sandy paths and dense pitch pine forests, and past seemingly tranquil lakes — and you'll arrive at the trail's highest point, Apple Pie Hill. Accessible through the Jeff Horelick Path Trailhead, which is marked by a mysterious deer skull carefully tucked between the trees, the spot features an old fire tower that's said to be haunted by the former owner of the property.

The Pine Barrens' ghost stories don't stop there. Near Atsion Mansion on Hampton Road, you'll find the site of another tragedy. Formerly known as Hampton Cranberry Bogs, the area once belonged to the Rider family. According to local lore, Henry Rider, his brother Andrew, and his niece, Elsie, were ambushed by a group of robbers while returning home from town with payroll money. In the ensuing chaos, Henry was killed, and his family members were seriously wounded. Legend has it that Henry Rider's ghost still haunts the property, forever stuck between the two worlds.

Other spectral residents of the Pine Barrens include the ghostly apparition of a young boy who died as a result of a hit and run — and who's still looking for his killer along Burnt Mill Road — as well as the spirit of a mysterious blonde woman, phantom black dog, ethereal white stag, maimed mill workers, and the headless ghost of the notorious pirate Captain Kidd.

However, the most famous supernatural resident of the woods is the infamous Jersey Devil. With more than 2,000 sightings reported, the terrifying flying creature is known for stalking and killing livestock, tormenting the local children, and emitting bone-chilling screams. Best of all, you don't have to go far into the woods to run into him — he's probably lurking just around the bend, waiting to pounce.