The Smoky Mountains are home to more legends than perhaps any other place in North Carolina. From the Cherokee who originally inhabited the land, small communities that are no longer, underwater ghost towns, and plenty of small cemeteries dotted along popular hiking trails – it’s no place I’d want to be alone at night. There are several different ghost stories in the area, but perhaps the most persistent is that along Norton Creek Trail.
Perhaps to keep children from wandering off into the woods, or perhaps for a more sinister reason, the Cherokee told the legend of Spearfinger, a witch who lived on the highest ridge with one long finger made of stone, as sharp as a knife. Spearfinger would lure children who wandered too far from their village. Upon returning to her house, she'd rock the child to sleep, then use her stone finger to cut out their livers. Apparently, witches perpetually prey on children, and for Spearfinger, livers were a delicacy (yikes).
For a more modern twist, a settler in the area was lost and looking for his daughter who had vanished (Spearfinger?). While on his search, he was killed near one of the smaller communities that once encompassed the north shore of Lake Fontana. Today, hikers report seeing a glowing orb. The orb frequently appears on the Norton Trail and usually acts a guide for lost travelers trying to return to safety or find their way back to the main trailhead.
Even the most skeptical of hikers feel an eerie energy here. If you're the type to not be easily spooked, or if you're a ghost hunter yourself, you can stay at a campsite within walking distance of an old cemetery. Start on the Norton Creek Trail from Lakeview Dr. You'll walk along the north shore of Lake Fontana for six miles. An interesting fact about the trail is you're walking on what was once a trail used during "Decoration Days." The families of those buried would travel to decorate the headstones and also celebrate their ancestry. Along the trail, you pass a number of ruins consisting of chimneys, brick foundations, and even stone walls. There's also a number of backcountry campsites that are located where communities once thrived. It's certainly spooky and not a hike I'd recommend taking alone.
If you're looking for something more guided and a little less creepy (because you'll be around a group of people) Bryson City offers the Ghosts and Legends Tour with American Hikes. You'll be taken to the ominous Road to Nowhere, a gold mining site, and a 3.5-mile hike chock full of Cherokee legends and folklore.
I think for many, it’s no new news that the Smoky Mountains are indeed extremely haunted. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, there’s no denying that the fact hundreds were displaced from their homes. A whole town laying beneath Fontana Lake creates some weird energy in the area. Photographers have reported their equipment malfunctioning in the area, hikers have vanished, and many visit once and swear to never return. Despite the scary aspect, it’s still an absolutely beautiful place, just a bit eerie.
Have you hiked the Norton Trail before, or do you have any of your own stories to share about the Smoky Mountains?
If you want to learn more about the history behind why this area is so haunted, read about The Road to Nowhere.
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