The Creepiest Hike In Indiana Takes You Through The Ruins Of An Old Cemetery
You know, there are a few places that seem to come up again and again if you search for “haunted places in Indiana” on the internet. Among the most famous (or should we say infamous?) cases in the Hoosier State are those of Whispers Estate, the Hannah House, Central State Mansion, and the old Slippery Noodle Inn. Another commonly-mentioned and legendary Hoosier haunt is Stepp Cemetery, and guess what? There just so happens to be a creepy hike to get to that very place that’s equal parts beautiful and eerie. Nestled within the notoriously creepy Morgan-Monroe State Forest is the Three Lakes Hike, which takes hikers past two photogenic, crystal-clear lakes (yes, just two – there used to be three), but also leads them to one of the most haunted places in the state. Take this haunted hike in Indiana if you’re hoping to get out and enjoy the outdoors with a side of spookiness.
Three Lakes Trail is beautiful and somewhat mysterious.
It's a long one - at just over ten miles in length - but it is worth the effort. The landscapes one encounters hiking this trail are worth it on their own, but there's much more to this hike than just scenic views.
Sure, the surrounding woodlands of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest are quite beautiful. Peaceful, even.
It's a great place to come hike if you're seeking peace and quiet. Well... peace and quiet, and the occasional "what was that?" when you hear a strange noise along the way.
See, as beautiful as this trek is, it's also said to be one of Indiana's creepiest.
There are many reasons for this; local legend has it that the entire forest is haunted. Others say it's only certain spots. We're not sure who's right, but we'd rather neither was.
The well-marked, occasionally muddy trail leads to somewhere that may just be one of Indiana's most haunted hotspots.
It's the infamous old Stepp Cemetery, established two centuries ago and said to be crawling with paranormal activity. The stories that come out of this place are positively chilling.
There are about 114 graves in here, and unfortunately, many of the occupants haven't seemed to receive the memo that they are, in fact, deceased.
Take, for instance, the tragic (and bone-chilling) story of the Lady in Black. The legend changes a bit depending on the source, but the consistency between them all is this: a local woman lost her husband and then a child, and both were buried at the Stepp Cemetery. Until she died herself, the grieving woman would come here and mourn, using a stump beside the gravesites to sit on. Nowadays, you might want to avoid a specific stump - said to be that very one - as the woman's disgruntled spirit is sure to kill anyone who does within a year. People have reported the unceasing sensation that they were being watched, and strange noises, orbs, and electronics malfunctioning have also all been spoken of.
Some folks have claimed that it's not just Stepp Cemetery along this hike that's unsettling.
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
