Utah has plenty of places that people say are haunted. In most cases, the haunting stories are of people who have died and still linger, scaring the pants off the unwitting souls who stumble upon them. Here’s a hiking trail in one of Utah’s most beautiful places… but people have seen and heard some pretty creepy things along the Rock Canyon haunted hike.

The Rock Canyon Trail in Utah County is absolutely stunning, especially in the fall, when autumn foliage turns the palette into rich, jewel-toned colors. Hikers on this trail love the majestic natural beauty here.
Carie Whitlock/Alltrails
But on an overcast or stormy day, hikers who stay out on the trail close to sundown might have a totally different experience.
Breck Tuttle/Alltrails
Throughout the years, many people have died in this canyon.
Tina B./Tripadvisor
It's a popular rock climbing spot, and several unfortunate climbers have slipped and fallen.

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The first known death that occurred here was that of Big Elk, a Ute who led 70 of his men to fight a Mormon militia over a land dispute.
Steve Oswald/Alltrails
Big Elk and several of his men were wounded in battle and headed into Rock Canyon to escape. Big Elk died of his wounds near the mouth of the canyon; his wife tried to climb to escape the militia but fell to her death. Squaw Peak is named after her.
Hikers along the trail have reported seeing and hearing some strange things, especially during bad weather.
Tyrus Okinishki/Alltrails
Reports include the sounds of drums beating, footsteps, and blood-curdling screams.
Some say that they hear the wailing of a woman. Perhaps the wife of Big Elk?
Breck Tuttle/Alltrails
Many have reported that they see a man wearing clothing from the 1970s. When first spotted, he's perched high on the cliff. He comes running straight down the mountain, then disappears.
The creek may be haunted by a small girl.
Stacey Mower Bringhurst/Alltrails
People claim to see her playing on the rocks in the middle of the water. She's often singing or humming to herself. As they get near, she vanishes.

I like to think that I don’t believe in ghosts…but I’ve never hiked this trail on a cloudy late afternoon. What do you think? Is Rock Canyon haunted? Tell us your stories about this place!

If you’re interested in visiting more of Utah’s haunted spots, take our haunted road trip.

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Rock Canyon Haunted Hike

Sarah M. | September 05, 2022

What are the most haunted places in Utah?

After lacing up your boots and completing the Rock Canyon haunted hike, you might be curious to explore more haunted places in Utah. Luckily for you, there are many! Salt Lake City Cemetery is so old that it’s had plenty of time to collect unhappy spirits who’ve failed to move on to the afterlife. "Emo" will appear to you if you light a candle, circle his crypt three times, and then peer into it. The ghost of a small child has been seen here and is sometimes heard sobbing late at night.

Fort Douglas is another notoriously haunted site in Utah. The site of several suicides and murders in its early years between 1896 and 1901 and some of those spirits may haunt the cemetery and fort museum today. The ghost most often seen is the one nicknamed "Clem," who is a short, stocky man with a beard, wearing a Civil War-era uniform. He seems happy enough but tends to startle museum staff when he shows up unexpectedly. 

Of course, we can't discuss haunted places in Utah without mention of Silver Fork Lodge. Guests at the Silver Fork Lodge at Brighton report feeling cold spots throughout the hotel, along with a general feeling of discomfort. Late at night, footsteps and whispers are supposedly heard right inside guests’ rooms. Staff reports objects being moved and electronics and lighting flickering and turning themselves on and off. Eerie!

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Rock Canyon Trail, Provo, UT 84604, USA