Did you know that the low-lying Brown Mountain ridge, located in the Pisgah National Forest near Morganton, holds the sought-after and seldom-seen Brown Mountain Lights of North Carolina? And while this is one of North Carolina’s most popular mountains, few people know it is hiding this dark and terrifying secret. Stories of the unexplained phenomenon of the Brown Mountain Lights have circulated throughout western North Carolina and beyond since at least the early 20th century. One 1913 article from The Charlotte Observer, “No Explanation,” reads, “With punctual regularity, the light rises in a southeasterly direction from the point of observation, just over the slope of Brown Mountain. The lights are sometimes very bright and move about the side of the mountain, first about 7:30 p.m., again about 20 or so minutes later, and again at 10 o’clock.”

The lights might be visible from Grandfather Mountain or Wiseman’s View on the west side of Linville Gorge, but the best views are found from the parking turnout near mile point 20 on N.C. Highway 181. There you’ll see the sprawling Brown Mountain, a low, long ridge right across from the overlook. Happy hunting!

Brown Mountain is one of several highlights of the Grandfather District of Pisgah National Forest.
Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger Station, 109 Lawing Dr, Nebo, NC 28761, USA
Brown Mountain Lights/Facebook
And while it looks like a normal mountain, a few people have become intrigued by an unexplained phenomenon called the Brown Mountain Lights.
Jan Kronsell, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Even this old U.S. Forest Service sign near Brown Mountain acknowledges the existence of the dark and terrifying secret.
Brown Mountain Lights/Facebook
Wiseman's View has a parking area, which is handy for viewing the mystery lights.
Wiseman's View Scenic Overlook, Marion, NC 28752, USA
Jenn Allen/TripAdvisor
There, some people are braving the fog for a glimpse of the paranormal activity.
Brown Mountain Lights/Facebook
Warning: This is a high cliff area, so watch your children.
Celeste J/TripAdvisor

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Dryer weather brings more sightings of the bright lights, which call for some off-road driving.
Brown Mountain OHV Trail System, 1610 Brown Mountain Beach Rd, Morganton, NC 28655, USA
Meagan Finch/AllTrails
Another great way to see them is on this 11.6-mile out-and-back Brown Mountain OHV trail in Morganton. Put about six hours aside for this moderately challenging route.
The payoff could be amazing.
Brown Mountain Lights/Facebook
The Charlotte Observer article describes the Brown Mountain Lights as "much smaller than the full moon, much larger than any star, and fiery red."
The lights are sometimes very bright and move about the mountainside.
Brown Mountain Lights/Facebook
"It rises in the rare distance, from beyond Brown Mountain, which is about six miles from Rattlesnake Knobb, and after going up a short distance, wavers and goes out in less than one minute," the article continues.
Brown Mountain Lights/Facebook
Here is a shot of an orb captured on film.
Someone else captured double orbs.
Brown Mountain Lights/Facebook
"During the winter, it appears far off to the south of its usual summer position, and is not visible from Rattlesnake Knob, but is seen from a point farther down the turnpike, around the point or ridge that hides it from the summer point of observation," according to the old article.
So the next time you are hiking on Brown Mountain or viewing it from another place, such as in this case from Beacon Heights Summit off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, remember what mysterious, dark secret surrounds this popular mountain in North Carolina.
Beacon Heights Trail, North Carolina 28646, USA
Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Are you ready to scout out one of North Carolina’s dark and terrifying secrets? Be one of the few people to spot the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights of North Carolina. If you are successful or even if you try, please let us know in the comments below.

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