Haunted Hikes in the Smokies | Smoky Mountain Cabin Rentals
The Smokies are an ancient mountain range, full of legends and myths that are a product of centuries of human settlement and natural changes. Some speculate that more than just stories linger among the valleys and peaks, and both visitors and locals alike have had creepy encounters along the trails.
If you’re planning a fall getaway or Halloween-season trip, there’s no better place to experience it all than right here in East Tennessee. Check out our ultimate list of haunted hikes and eerie sights of the Smoky Mountains.
After your spine-tingling adventure, unwind in comfort at one of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals. Each private, cozy cabin is located close to town and just minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, giving you easy access to all the best trails and attractions in the Smokies.
Elkmont
Before the Smokies became a National Park, Native Americans and settlers alike lived and worked all throughout the thick Southern Appalachian forests. One historic settlement was the town of Elkmont, a logging boom-town that also hosted wealthy vacationers. Once the park was founded in 1934, the government seized the land, and the town was abandoned. Or was it?
The Little River Trail may seem peaceful, but folks have reported feeling unsettled while walking around the old foundations and few remaining structures. Echoes of the past call through the trees, and you may hear whispers coming from under the bridges on the Elkmont Nature Trail. Perhaps some of the townsfolk did end up staying behind, and they’re waiting to greet you as you visit their old homes.
When you’ve finished exploring, you won’t have to worry about any ghosts lingering around at Elkridge Cabin! This peaceful luxury cabin rental features a relaxing hot tub and is just minutes from town the “back entrance” of the National Park — no ghostly visitors included.
Engine Creek Trail
The peaceful Greenbrier area of the Smokies is a favorite for summer visitors looking to swim in mountain streams or hike to the stunning Ramsey Cascades. Greenbrier Cove Road is also a fantastic autumn driving destination for leaf-peeping, but hidden in the woods is a unique sight that may give you a bit of a fright!
A loop trail known as Grapeyard Ridge takes you to something amazing: Engine Creek, named for the abandoned steam engine trapped right in the water. The engine was used to power a lumber saw in the 1920s and unfortunately fell down the mountain side and into the creek bed, where it has stayed ever since. Sitting by the stream, you may feel transported to the past, or get a feeling that the past is coming to visit you.
On another section of the loop trail, don’t miss the chance to stop by the Owensby graveyard. Say hello to little Delia and Oary Owensby, who you may hear laughing from behind the headstones. Watch your back as you leave the clearing to return to the trail- they may still want to play with you!
Narrowly escaped a ghostly encounter in Greenbrier? You may get another chance to visit with a ghost if you eat at the Greenbrier Restaurant. Say hello to their resident ghost Lydia before returning to the cozy A-Frame cabin, Smoky Oaks, for a good night’s sleep- if you can!
Mount Leconte
Mount Leconte is the most legendary icon of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As the highest peak in Tennessee and the third highest peak in the National Park, it’s a must-hike mountain for the avid outdoorsman, and people knew this even a hundred years ago. At the summit lies the Leconte Lodge, the highest guest lodge in the eastern US. It was built in 1926 with the passionate desire to host guests visiting the majestic mountain, and the lodge was loved so greatly by one of its caretakers that some say he’s still around!
If you’re brave enough to embark on the strenuous hike and stay the night, you should be prepared for a late night visitor. Many guests have reported waking up exactly at 3:33 am to find that they’re being watched by a little girl at the end of their bed. No one knows who she is, or why she likes to watch you sleep… When you make it back to Hidden Bear cabin, you won’t have to worry about anyone watching you sleep! This comfortable cabin rental near Pigeon Forge is close to shops, dining, and hiking trails.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is another place in the Smokies that was once a thriving community full of people. Like Elkmont, the land here was also seized and the occupants displaced. Some elements of the town still remain, namely a few rustic cabins and several churches that still host weekly services. Next to the churches lay their graveyards, and perhaps some of the congregation who never left. As day slips into night, some visitors driving the Cades Cove Loop Road have spotted a woman’s face floating next to the Primitive Baptist Church. No one knows who she is or what business she may have still in the Cove, but she’s not the only scary sight in the area. If you tread away from the main road and walk into the woods to explore the Elijah Oliver place, you may feel like you’re not actually alone…
After your pleasantly eerie drive through the Cove, stop in Townsend to enjoy a draft at Peaceful Side Social, or bring some cans home to enjoy at your luxury cabin rental, Oakley Lodge. Unwind from your Cades Cove adventure in the cabin’s heated indoor pool — one of the top-rated Smoky Mountain cabins with pools near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Look Rock
ne of the scariest stories in the Smokies comes from the native Cherokee people who lived here long before anyone else did. Legend has it that a frightening figure lives up on Chilhowee mountain on the northwestern border of the National Park, and if you meet her, you may not return to tell the tale.
Spearfinger, or U’tlun’ta’, is described as a witch with a long, dagger-like finger made out of obsidian that she uses to cut out the livers of her victims. As she approaches down the mountain side, the birds will fly away, so if something spooks them while you’re on your hike, you better look out!
These days, you can drive along Chilhowee Mountain on the Foothills Parkway near Walland. If you’re daring enough, stop and hike to Look Rock for gorgeous views, but watch your back! No one knows for sure if Spearfinger is still lurking there…
After testing your courage, return to Black Bear Lodge, one of our most popular Smoky Mountain cabin rentals. This family friendly cabin rental features a game room, outdoor firepit, and plenty of space for families or groups, it’s a comfortable and stylish base for your adventures near the park.
✨Book Your Smoky Mountain Cabin Getaway✨
Whether you’re planning a fall leaf-peeping trip, a Halloween escape, or a cozy winter retreat, our collection of cabins near Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers the best lodging options in East Tennessee. Stay close to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville — and experience the perfect mix of nature, adventure, and comfort.
Book your Smoky Mountain cabin rental today and discover why guests return year after year for unforgettable mountain memories — no ghosts required.
