Consistently touted as one of the spookiest places in Northern California, this haunted cemetery isn’t for the faint of heart. This incredibly creepy haunt can be found in the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve near Antioch. The park is brimming with history and the mine tour is an exciting adventure in itself. However, one of the most notable features of the park is the hiking trail that leads you straight to this incredibly eerie cemetery. Read the ghost story associated with the cemetery below before deciding whether or not you’d be willing to brave this spooky hike!
Located in Contra Costa County, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is a historic park comprised of the remnants of old mining towns such as Somersville and Nortonville. The 6,000-acre park is an excellent preservation of California's mining history, but it's also considered one of the most haunted areas in Northern California.
The park is most well-known for offering one of the most unique underground tours in the state. Here you can get an up-close glimpse of the Hazel Atlas Mine, one of the most productive coal and sand mines in the state's history.
However, there's plenty to do in the park aboveground—especially if you consider yourself a paranormal enthusiast. In fact, there are multiple ghost stories surrounding the park but the most notable one is the story of two "white witches".
If you want the chance to spot the lingering spirits of these two so-called "witches", you'll want to visit Rose Hill Cemetery above the park. It can be reached by a hiking trail at the south end of Somersville Road. You'll arrive at the cemetery after just three quarters of a mile.
Even in broad daylight, you can't help but feel a little creeped out while perusing the cemetery. The old cemetery contains the graves of more than 200 townspeople, including the graves of the witches that are believed to haunt the park to this very day. But what's the story behind these two famous ghosts?
Back in the 1870s, there was a woman named Mary who acted as the nanny for many of the children who lived throughout the mining towns. However, all of the children she took care of died of some unknown illness or other mysterious circumstance.
After discovering evidence of sorcery in Mary's home, she was declared a witch and hanged. She is said to haunt the mines to this very day, seeking justice for her untimely end.
The second "witch" was a woman named Sarah Norton who died in a carriage accident. She wasn't religious and didn't want a funeral but the townspeople wanted to give her one anyway. However, the funeral kept getting delayed because of storms. Eventually they decided to just bury her in Rose Hill Cemetery and people have reported seeing her ghost there ever since.
The hike to the cemetery is undoubtedly beautiful, surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, but don't let that fool you. This is one seriously creepy spot and it might just have you running for the hills.
What do you think? Would you go for a hike to visit this haunted cemetery? I’m not so sure that I would! If you love exploring our state’s best haunts, be sure to take a look at this Road Trip To The Scariest Places In Northern California.
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