10 Spine-Chilling Haunted Trees and Forests You Should Avoid

A popular children’s nursery rhyme begins, “If you venture into the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise”—referring to a harmless gathering of teddy bears. However, the forests and trees listed here are far from harmless. Instead of cuddly bears enjoying sandwiches, you might encounter ghostly apparitions or eerie voices echoing from the unknown.

1. The Ancient Llangernyw Yew // Llangernyw, Wales

In the ancient churchyard of Llangernyw, Wales, grows a 4000-year-old yew tree, believed to be home to the spirit of the “Angelystor,” or “Recording Angel.” According to legend, this spirit emerges every Halloween to reveal the names of those in the parish who will pass away in the next year. One tale recounts how a skeptical local, Siôn Ap Rhobert, after a night of drinking, dared to confront the legend. Upon arriving at the church, he heard a voice listing names—starting with his own. “Wait, wait!” he shouted. “I’m not ready!” True to the prophecy, he died within the year.

2. The Haunted Apple Tree // Douglass, Massachusetts

According to folklore, in the 19th century, a wandering peddler took shelter under this apple tree, where he was allegedly murdered by the orchard owner, who slit his throat. The peddler’s ghost tormented the killer relentlessly, driving him to flee the area. Later, witnesses claimed to see a ghostly figure beneath the tree, clutching its throat and wailing. The apples from this tree are said to have flesh stained red, symbolizing the blood spilled from the peddler’s fatal wound.

3. The Devil’s Tree // Basking Ridge, New Jersey

The tales associated with this oak tree are incredibly chilling. Known as “a gateway to hell,” it’s tied to the New Jersey chapter of the KKK during the 1920s, where it was supposedly used for lynchings and cross burnings. Another legend claims a local farmer killed his family and then took his own life by hanging from its branches. While the Klan was active nearby, these stories of violence and tragedy remain unverified.

Despite the lack of proof, people remain cautious around the tree. It’s said that speaking ill of it can lead to dire outcomes, such as causing car accidents. Others believe the spirits of those who died near the tree keep the area unnaturally warm, preventing snow from accumulating in winter. In the past, visitors have been cautioned against attempting to cut it down, as doing so might result in a sudden, mysterious death.

4. The Great Wood // Norfolk, England

Legend has it that the ghost of Anne Boleyn, the executed second wife of King Henry VIII, reappears in these woods every May 19. Her headless specter marks the anniversary of her execution, arriving in a carriage pulled by a headless coachman, with her severed head resting on her lap.

Folklore also recounts that when news of Boleyn’s death reached the hall, four headless horses were spotted pulling a headless man across the nearby fields. Her father, Thomas, is said to haunt the woods as well, cursed to cross 12 bridges each year before dawn—a punishment for failing to prevent the executions of Anne and her brother George.

5. Isla de las Muñecas // Mexico City, Mexico

The trees on this island resemble a scene from a nightmare. Its name, meaning “The Island of the Dolls,” explains why. Countless dolls and their dismembered parts hang eerily from the branches.

More than five decades ago, the island’s sole resident stumbled upon a young girl’s body in a canal and later found a doll floating nearby. The man, Julian Santa Barrera, hung that first doll and many others as a tribute to the girl. Some claim the dolls communicate, move their limbs, or even open their eyes, while others believe they are malevolent or protect the island. Barrera was convinced the dolls were haunted by the girl’s spirit. Fifty years after starting his eerie collection, Barrera was discovered dead in the exact spot where he had found the girl’s body.

6. Hoia-Baciu Forest // Cluj Napoca, Romania

This Romanian forest is often referred to as the “Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania.” Local legends claim the 55,000-year-old woodland is cursed. One tale tells of a shepherd and his 200 sheep vanishing here without leaving a single trace.

Stories of supernatural occurrences and even UFO sightings abound. In the 1960s, two individuals captured images of disc-shaped objects hovering above the forest. Others describe experiencing unexplained rashes, dizziness, and illness after entering, along with electronic devices failing to work. Many believe the circular clearing at the forest’s heart is a gateway from which no one returns.

7. Aokigahara Forest // Japan

Aokigahara, dubbed the “Sea of Trees” and “Suicide Forest,” lies at the foot of Mount Fuji. It is infamous for having the second-highest suicide rate globally, surpassed only by San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

The forest is steeped in tales of mythological Japanese demons and yurei, vengeful spirits consumed by hatred and sorrow. These spirits are believed to belong to those abandoned in the forest during famines to conserve food for others. Dominated by a thick growth of hemlock and cypress trees, the forest is eerily silent, with birdsong rarely heard, fueling the belief that it is haunted.

8. Pine Barrens // New Jersey

Renowned as one of North America’s most haunted forests, the Pine Barrens cover over a million acres, primarily filled with oak and pine trees and diverse ground vegetation. Originally home to the Lenni Lenape tribe, it later saw European settlers [PDF]. Once a thriving industrial area, it was abandoned after coal discoveries in Pennsylvania, leaving behind more “ghost towns” than any other U.S. region.

The Pine Barrens’ most infamous supernatural inhabitant is the Jersey Devil. Legend claims it was the 13th child of Deborah Leeds, born in 1735 with leathery wings, a goat’s head, and hooves. The creature allegedly flew up the chimney and into the Barrens, where it has terrorized livestock ever since. Other spirits reportedly roam the area, including a young boy killed in a hit-and-run and the headless ghost of the pirate Captain Kidd.

9. Devil’s Tramping Ground // Bear Creek, North Carolina

For generations, the 40-foot barren circle known as the tramping ground, nestled deep in the woods roughly 50 miles south of Greensboro, North Carolina, has remained devoid of any plant life. Folklore suggests this eerie clearing serves as the devil’s dance floor, where he arrives each night to stomp and twirl, his fiery hooves scorching the earth beneath him. Alternate tales claim the site was once a battleground for two warring Indigenous tribes, with the soil so saturated in blood that it became infertile. Some even believe it was the location of a UFO landing, with the radiation from extraterrestrial engines permanently destroying all vegetation.

10. Dow Hill Forest // Kurseong, India

This forest is infamous for being the scene of numerous murders. It houses the Dow Hill Victoria Boys’ School, often regarded as one of India’s most haunted locations. Residents claim to hear footsteps and murmurs echoing through the empty halls, while others have spotted a headless boy wandering along the path connecting the school and the forest, ominously dubbed “Death Road.” Witnesses have also reported encountering a glowing red eye watching them and feeling pursued by an invisible presence. A spectral woman in gray is said to wander the woods, accompanied by blood-curdling screams. Legend has it that attempting to follow her will lead to getting lost in the forest, after which she will haunt your dreams.