10 Unsettling Encounters to Make You Reconsider Entering the Woods

Dense forests and woodlands cover at least 31% of Earth’s land surface. Many people enjoy hiking in them, taking in the sights of nearby lakes, mountains, or the ocean as they go. Some even choose to make the woods their home—they build cabins and houses in designated areas, where they can enjoy the wildlife and simple tranquility of being in nature. Then, there are those who went into the woods, whether for camping or hiking, only to experience something terrifying.

The 10 woodlands on this list are known for more than just trees and hiking trails. People whisper about them, avoid them, and warn others against entering them.

Related: 10 Lesser-Known Spine-Tingling Haunted Hotspots

10 The Dechmont Woods Encounter

Dedicated forestry worker Robert Taylor was busy checking the gates and fences at Dechmont Woods near Livingston in 1979 when he stumbled across a strange object in a clearing. Before him hovered a 30-foot-high dome-shaped object. Two spheres emerged from the object, rolling toward him. The spheres were covered in spikes. Robert passed out at this point, but not before feeling something grab him on either side of his legs. He woke up in a confused and bedraggled state twenty minutes later.

The clearing was also empty, but a smell of burning lingered in the air, and deep marks were visible in the ground. Robert was completely shaken up, so when he tried to drive home, he ended up in a ditch. He reported the incident to the police, who witnessed rips to the 61-year-old’s pants and grazes to his legs. He also told his wife that he had been attacked by something that looked like a spaceship.

The police believed something had happened to Robert because of the state he was in. They went to the clearing where they found 32 holes in the ground. To the police, it seemed as though caterpillar tracks made the holes. But when they spoke to Robert’s employer and inspected the forestry machinery, nothing matched. The officers agreed that a heavy object of several tons had stood on the ground and made those marks, but they couldn’t rationally explain what the object was. All they knew for sure was that Robert’s pants were damaged by something hooking into them and pulling upward.

Robert was mentally stable, as confirmed by his wife, and a war hero. He also diligently attended church. Up until his death, he never changed his story. What happened to him was recorded as a criminal assault, but the police could never ascertain exactly what took place that day.^[1]

9 The Clocaenog Forest Man

On November 14, 2015, Andrew and Mark Middle were camping in Clocaenog Forest during the Wales Rally GB. It was a night like any other when Mark, outside in the woods, found a skull while searching for firewood. The skull was largely covered in moss and hidden by undergrowth in the forest.

The brothers contacted the police, and an officer arrived shortly afterward. What the officer found was the completely decomposed skeleton of a human male. It was also determined that the location of the skeleton was near the murder and burial site of 28-year-old Edward Carthy, the youngest victim of serial killer Peter Moore.

It is believed that the skeleton belonged to a man in his sixties. Clothing found nearby was never confirmed to have belonged to the victim. Forensic tests showed that the man had a broken nose, injuries to the wrist and spine, and fused vertebrae. It was also apparent that he had a form of arthritis and would have been in pain most days. Peter Moore later claimed the victim was a mature student who attended Aberystwyth University and disappeared in 1996. Despite this apparent confession, the body of the so-called Clocaenog Forest Man has not been identified, nor has the murderer.^[2]

8 Disembodied Voices

In 2022, an Irish woman reported a strange experience while walking in the woods close to her Meath home. She told a local media outlet that she got lost trying to increase the step count on her FitBit. This happened after she touched two separate trees before entering the woods. She recalled one tree being warm, while the other was wet and cold.

The path she was on branched to the left, and she found herself in waist-high weeds and plants. There were many other people nearby, but she knew she wasn’t on the main path anymore. She walked back to the fork in the path and this time went right. Again, the path ended abruptly, and she turned to go back. But this time, the main trail didn’t look familiar at all.

It was becoming overcast, and she simply wanted to leave. Pulling out her phone to use Google Maps didn’t help, as there was no signal. So, she kept walking, ending up in an overgrown area yet again. It was then that she heard a high-pitched woman’s voice shouting, “Over here!” At first, she didn’t think anything of it—until the woman began to laugh. The laughter unnerved her so much that she took off her t-shirt, turned it inside out, and put it back on. She turned around, immediately found the path, and got back to her car.

When she looked at her FitBit, it had recorded 10,000 steps in addition to the 8,000 she had already accumulated. This didn’t make any sense. Some told her afterward that touching the two trees had allowed her to enter a strange portal. Others believed she may have stepped onto a stray sod—according to Irish folklore, a piece of the Otherworld that somehow ends up on Earth.^[3]

7 The Black Forest Haunting

The Black Forest in Colorado is a large, wooded area known for its beautiful Ponderosa pines and secluded, cabin-style homes. In 1991, Steve and Beth Lee bought their dream home there. But mere weeks after settling in, the couple and their children began experiencing strange occurrences.

They would hear chains rattling and orchestra music blasting through the house. They saw unexplained flashing lights, and a foul odor lingered in the air. They installed a top-tier security system, but nothing was captured. In desperation, the Lees contacted the producers of the TV show Sightings, and a crew of ghost hunters visited the home. They claimed multiple spirits were haunting the house, including a male spirit who insisted it belonged to him.

While filming, it appeared that a crew member and Beth Lee became possessed—something that was caught on camera and remains available online. Despite all of this, Steve Lee remained hopeful that there was a rational explanation. He even speculated that the U.S. military might be involved, suggesting soldiers stationed nearby had experimented with biological or psychological warfare.^[4]

6 The Cabin in the Woods

Maine is Stephen King’s stomping grounds, so it’s not too surprising that there’s a creepy abandoned cabin nestled deep within its forests. Manisha James decided to spend a weekend there, hoping for a serene getaway. Instead, she got a weekend she’d never forget.

The sun couldn’t penetrate the thick canopy, so the cabin remained freezing cold. Its rotting walls and collapsing porch didn’t help. On the first night, Manisha awoke to footsteps and the slow turn of the bedroom doorknob. She opened the door but found no one. The next morning, after a restless night, she explored the cabin looking for answers.

All she found was a wooden box filled with old photos. One had an inscription: “She never left. Still waiting in the dark.” Manisha left the cabin immediately. Later, a shop owner in town told her the place had burned down years ago. Only the father of the family survived. Locals say if you go inside, you might hear the mother whispering behind the walls or the cries of a lost child.^[5]

5 The Legend of Fright Wood

Frith Wood is a stunning English forest by day—but it becomes “Fright Wood” after sunset. Said to be one of the most haunted forests in the UK, its eerie atmosphere is tied to a tragic tale from the Napoleonic Wars. Greenlaw House, located within walking distance of the forest in the 19th century, was converted into barracks to house captured French prisoners.

According to legend, a local woman fell in love with one of the imprisoned soldiers. Her father and brother disapproved of the relationship. They allegedly took the prisoner into the woods, where they beat him to death. The grief-stricken woman died shortly afterward, reportedly by suicide. Now, her sobbing spirit is said to run frantically through Fright Wood, forever searching for her lost love.^[6]

4 Weird Things Happen in the Knysna Forest

The Knysna Forest lies in the Knysna mountains and stretches across the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. It is the largest forest complex in the country and is steeped in mystery. Most notably, it’s where Rosalind Ballingall disappeared without a trace in 1969. It’s also home to the last known Knysna elephant—nicknamed Strangefoot—the lone survivor of a once-thriving herd.

But those are just the better-known tales. Others claim the forest is home to the Otang, a Bigfoot-like hominoid said to roam the trails. Hikers have reported shadowy black leopard sightings and whispered voices riding the wind through the trees. While these tales have helped draw adventurous tourists, the strangeness of the place has frightened many into never returning.^[7]

3 A Blair-Witch-Like Ghost

In 2014, Kate Channon and Lola Swan decided to go camping at Leigh Woods near Bristol. What started as a peaceful night in the forest quickly turned unsettling. As they settled into their tent, they heard branches snapping nearby—as though someone were trampling through the woods. The strange noises continued throughout the night, and both women began to feel watched.

Kate whistled into the darkness to test if someone was there. To their horror, someone—or something—whistled back. Not long after, some of their tools disappeared, and they heard what sounded like a child’s voice near their tent at 1 a.m. That was enough for the two campers. They packed up quickly and fled.

The next morning, they reviewed the photos taken around their camp. In one image, a luminous white figure resembling the Blair Witch appears to be watching them from behind a tree.^[8]

2 The Headless Ghosts of the Nahanni National Park Reserve

Canada’s Nahanni National Park Reserve is known for its majestic hot springs, mountains, and forests—but it has a darker reputation as the “Valley of the Headless Men.” In 1906, two gold prospectors—Willie and Frank McLeod—were found beheaded at their camp. A few years later, another prospector was found decapitated outside a burned-down cabin. More disappearances followed. By 1962, 44 people had either gone missing or been murdered in the park.

That same year, pilot Angus Blake MacKenzie survived a crash in the Nahanni Valley. Though his journal confirmed he was in good health and had food, his entries suddenly stopped after 42 days—and he was never seen again. Another plane crashed that year nearby. One prospector was found dead at the site, but the pilot and two other passengers were never found.

With decades of tragedy surrounding it, it’s no wonder hikers have reported sightings of headless ghosts walking along the rivers and among the trees. Others have reported hearing eerie wails in the canyons—or even witnessing strange lights in the sky.^[9]

1 The Tragedies of Suicide Forest

There is perhaps no forest more unsettling than Japan’s Aokigahara Jukai Forest, also known as Suicide Forest. Located at the base of Mount Fuji, it’s infamous for being the final resting place of countless individuals. That tragic legacy has spawned a wide range of ghost stories and strange sightings.

Visitors have reported seeing pale women in white kimonos drifting between the trees. When approached, these spirits—called Yurei—vanish into mist. Others have felt a tap on the shoulder, only to turn and find no one there. Hikers have heard crying in the distance or whispering voices behind them. Some even claim that the trees themselves are alive, growing denser to obscure trails and trap people who enter.

But the most chilling encounters involve finding personal belongings left behind by the lost—phones, shoes, or suicide notes pinned to trees. These moments serve as solemn reminders that the real horrors found in the forest aren’t just legends. Sometimes, they’re heartbreakingly human.^[10]