Updated October 26, 2022. Halloween falls on a Monday this year, so this weekend is the perfect time for getting in all of your spooky activities. Since Virginia is a state with one of the longest histories in the U.S., you’re sure to find some haunted attractions around every corner. If you are someone who loves frights or you’re planning an upcoming hike, here are three haunted trails to visit around the state.
Belle Isle Hike
Like many historic places, the state capital has its own haunted past. While Belle Isle is now as a great place for outdoor recreation, it has a history of death. During the Civil War, Belle the island was home to a prison camp where over 1,000 Union soldiers died due to starvation, dysentery, and disease. While the bodies of the soldiers have been removed from the cemetery, some say their spirits still remain. Those visiting the island have heard voices, seen the spirits of soldiers and have felt unexpected cold spots during the warm months. Tredegar St., Richmond
Corbin Cabin
Make your way down to Shenandoah National Park for a haunt. Hike the 1.5-mile Corbin Cabin Trail to the early 20th-century cabin. The haunted stories say the wife of George Corbin died in the cabin after giving birth back in 1924. With the family cemetery nearby, hikers say the woman still haunts the cabin, hearing her walk through the home and wandering the woods. Hikers and campers can even rent out the cabin through the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Shenandoah National Park, Robertson
Sarver Hollow Shelter
Take a trip down south for a spooky hike along the Appalachian Trail. As you walk down the 2.5-mile trail take in the beautiful sights of the valley and Keffer Oak, a 300-year-old tree and one of the tallest on the trail in the South. But once you get closer to the Sarver Hollow Shelter, expect the mood to shift. The Sarver family owned and lived on the property up until the 1950s and was surrounded by misfortune, including the Civil War, Great Depression, and many unexpected deaths. The legend goes that there is a ghost that roams the woods near the shelter and hikers can hear footsteps and see ghostly figures in their photographs. Appalachian Trail, Newport
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