Posted in Arkansas Creepy, Hiking, Nature March 11, 2022 by

The Creepiest Hike In Arkansas Takes You Through The Ruins Of An Abandoned Village

When thinking of haunted places in Arkansas, a hiking trail is probably the last place that comes to mind. However, haunted places in Arkansas come in all shapes and sizes – including hiking trails. The creepiest hikes in Arkansas, though, have got to be those within Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park, as they encircle the ruins of a village that vanished without a trace.

Located in the small community of Scott, Toltec Mounds Archaeological State Park is one of Arkansas’ most famous historical sites.
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And that’s because it’s the largest and most complex mound site in the entire state.
Due to its historic significance, the park has been deemed a National Historical Landmark – an honor given to only four sites in the Arkansas State Park system.
Joe H/All Trails
The property that now makes up the park was once the home of a group of people known as the Plum Bayou Culture.
Father Along/Flickr
The group inhabited the area between 650 A.D. and 1050 A.D.
Joe H/All Trails
Shrouded in mystery, archeologists and historians have been unable to trace the group’s origins.
wikimedia.org
Initially, it was thought they were related to the Toltec tribes of Mexico; however, that theory was quickly ruled out.
What’s more, the mysterious group abandoned the site around 1050 A.D.
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Today, no remnants of the actual residents exist. Instead, 18 mounds are all that remain of the Plum Bayou Culture.
Heather R. Nelson/All Trails
As if an entire village disappearing without a trace isn’t creepy enough, park-goers have had some strange experiences within the park.
Kyle Tuinstra/Flickr
Visitors have reported hearing phantom footsteps as well as seeing orbs and ghosts roaming about the park.
If you’re the type who seeks out scary spots rather than avoid them, you’ll be glad to know that the park’s two trails lead straight to the (paranormal) action.
Father Along/Flickr
All of the park’s inexplicable occurrences have taken place near the mounds. Coincidentally, the park’s two trails – the Knapp Trail and Plum Bayou Trail – both lead past the mysterious mounds.
A mix of natural beauty, history, and eeriness, the creepiest hike in Arkansas is perfect for adventure-seekers of all sorts!
arkansasstateparks.com

 

For more info, call Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park at (501) 961-9442. You can also visit the Arkansas State Parks website.

This isn’t the only creepy place in Arkansas. There are lots of places that will make your hair stand on end, and this route leads straight to them.

Address: Toltec Mounds, Arkansas 72142, USA