Wandering down a dark meandering road at night possesses its own unique sense of dread. Every critter noise seems amplified, and every shadow cast by pale moonlight appears ominous. These sounds and sights, despite naturally occurring, strangely penetrate the mind in a way that creates a sense of unease, like you shouldn’t be here. But you persist onward anyway because these feelings of dread are oddly enthralling. When you add a ghost story, legends of occult behavior, tales of evil people, or bizarre structures into the mix, this jolt of horror can lapse into feelings of unexpected dread.
The greater Los Angeles area possesses several prime examples of trails, hiking areas, and urban spelunking spots providing this devilish mix of creepy nighttime ambiance and chilling lore. Some of the trails that follow are picturesque paths that welcome scores of daytime hikers. Others are utilitarian structures hidden in plain sight. Remove their eerie context, and they look normal, if not innocuous. For those that know the secrets they hold, a nighttime trek offers freaky thrills—not just during the Halloween season, but all year round.
Disclaimer: Some of the following paths aren’t technically open after sunset, so proceed at night at your own risk. If you don’t want to run afoul of anyone, don’t fret—these pathways can be also quite creepy during the day, particularly under gloomy, overcast skies.