UFOs, Ghosts, and Cryptids: Paranormal Washington
Just a short drive from Seattle, the rural town of Gold Bar offers a surprising plunge into the world of UFO lore. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains about 45 miles northeast of downtown Seattle, Gold Bar sits near the infamous “UFO Alley,” a stretch of highway where sightings have been reported for decades. Visitors can explore nearby Wallace Falls State Park, hiking the moderately challenging 5.6-mile loop trail that winds through old-growth forest and past cascading waterfalls. While the scenery is breathtaking on its own—especially during spring when the falls are at their fullest—many hikers keep an eye on the skies, hoping for a glimpse of something otherworldly. The combination of natural beauty and eerie reputation makes this a fascinating spot for those curious about the unexplained.
Heading south to the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend stands as a living museum of Victorian architecture and ghost stories. About two hours west of Seattle, this historic seaport town invites visitors to wander its streets by day and join guided ghost tours by night. The famously haunted Rothschild House, now a bed and breakfast, is often featured on these tours. Built in the late 19th century, it combines ornate woodwork with tales of restless spirits from its colorful past. The town’s maritime museum also includes exhibits that touch on local legends and maritime mysteries. The foggy evenings of late fall and winter lend an atmospheric backdrop, perfect for experiencing the spectral stories that seem woven into the very fabric of Port Townsend’s streets.
Farther north and deep in the forested heart of the Olympic National Park lies the enigmatic Lake Crescent Lodge, about a two-hour drive west of Seattle. This historic lodge, perched on the shores of the crystal-clear glacial Lake Crescent, has long been associated with ghostly sightings and strange noises reported by visitors and staff alike. The area’s dense forests and misty mornings create a mysterious ambiance that feeds the imagination. Guests can take the Marymere Falls Trail, an easy two-mile hike that leads to a 90-foot waterfall framed by moss-draped trees, or simply relax by the lake’s edge. The lodge’s rustic charm combined with stories of paranormal happenings makes it a unique destination, especially in the quiet, mist-filled mornings of early spring or late fall.
In central Washington, the town of Roslyn, about 80 miles northeast of Seattle, offers a blend of mining history and cryptid folklore. Once a booming coal town, Roslyn has retained much of its historic charm with well-preserved brick buildings and a lively arts scene. It gained pop culture fame as the filming location for the television series “Northern Exposure,” but it’s also known for local tales of mysterious creatures lurking in the nearby forests. Visitors can explore the Roslyn Museum to learn about the town’s storied past before heading out to the adjacent Yakima River Canyon. Hiking or biking along the canyon trails, you might imagine the legendary “Bigfoot” roaming the dense woods and rugged terrain. The late summer months are ideal here, when warm days and cool nights create perfect conditions for outdoor adventures and storytelling around campfires.
On the eastern side of the state near Spokane, Riverside State Park offers one of Washington’s largest urban parks but with a surprisingly wild and mysterious reputation. Just a 15-minute drive northwest of Spokane, the park features miles of hiking and biking trails, including the popular Bowl and Pitcher Trail, a 1.7-mile loop crossing the Spokane River over a suspension bridge and past dramatic basalt rock formations. The geology here is stunning, sculpted by ancient floods, and the park is also a hotspot for local ghost stories tied to Native American legends and early settlers’ encounters. Visiting at twilight or dawn enhances the sense of stepping into another world, where the natural beauty blends with whispers of the unknown.
For a truly eerie experience on the southern border of Washington, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site sits just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. About 20 miles south of downtown Vancouver, Washington, this reconstructed 19th-century fur trading post and military fort holds tales of haunted barracks and spectral soldiers. Visitors can tour the Officers’ Row historic homes and the fort’s parade ground, where reenactments bring history to life during summer months. On special evening tours, guides share stories of ghost sightings and unexplained happenings on the grounds. The blend of rich history and creeping shadows beneath towering oaks makes it a captivating destination from late fall through early spring, when the shorter days lend themselves to spooky exploration.
Finally, the San Juan Islands, located off Washington’s northwest coast about a two-hour ferry ride from Anacortes, are steeped in natural beauty and cryptid tales. Orcas Island, the largest in the archipelago, offers whale watching tours that sometimes come with stories of sea monsters and mysterious creatures said to inhabit the surrounding waters. Visitors can hike the Turtleback Mountain Preserve’s trails, a moderately difficult 3.7-mile loop with panoramic views of the archipelago and the Canadian coastline. The islands’ isolation, rugged terrain, and abundant wildlife create a perfect backdrop for legends to thrive. Summer offers the best weather for exploring these trails and taking in the maritime atmosphere, but the island’s mystique lingers year-round.