The 7 Most Haunted Sites in California

What we are about to suggest is not for the faint of heart. We invite you to take a sojourn into the supernatural—and dare to camp nearby.

To aid you in this bone-chilling quest, we scoured the California countryside—every dark cemetery, decaying farmhouse, underground ossuary and abandoned asylum—to come up with the seven most haunted sites in California. If you’re feeling brave and want to step up your campfire story game, we also included information on where you can camp near, but not too near, these ghoulish haunts.

Black Diamond Mines (Antioch, CA)

This legend revolves around the White Witch. In the late 1870s, a nanny named Mary was a caretaker for the children of many area miners. Over time, some of the kids under Mary’s care fell mysteriously ill and died shortly thereafter. The townspeople had already suspected Mary of witchcraft, and when they uncovered evidence of her sorcery rituals, their fears were confirmed. Mary was dubbed the White Witch and hanged for her crimes. Since then, there have been numerous sightings of a ghostly white apparition at the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, hovering effortlessly and mysteriously in the foggy evening twilight of the Black Diamond Mine.

Camping near the Black Diamond Mines

Overnight camping is available at the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, though Delta Respite offers a cozy farm cabin just 25 minutes way on Sherman Island.

Bodie Ghost Town (Bridgeport, CA)

As a deserted mining town whose population once swelled to 12,000 during the gold rush, the designation “ghost town” now takes on a double meaning in Bodie. Inexplicable reports—such as smells of food cooking wafting from the Mendocini house, giggles in the cemetery from a girl accidentally killed by a mining axe, and a woman peering from a window of the Dechambeau house—are common occurrences here. It’s also said that the spirits are still protective of their property, so stealing anything from Bodie is rumored to bring a curse of misfortune upon the burglar. You can put that rusty can right back where you found it, mkay?

Camping near Bodie

Camping is not allowed within Bodie State Historic Park, but the following waterfront campgrounds are all within 30 to 45 minutes away: Paradise Shores Camp, Bridgeport Reservoir, and Willow Springs Resort.

Hollydale Sanatorium (Downey, CA)

This hospital once accommodated many tuberculosis, polio, and mentally ill patients. Some say that many deaths resulted from experimental testing in the purported “insane asylum.” One story even describes a psychiatric patient who slit the throat of a priest during a ritualistic exorcism. To this day, there are reports of unidentified noises echoing from its vacant halls and strange shadows flickering in the windows. The grounds can be investigated by touring the perimeter, but it’s for the best that trespassing inside is illegal. We’d expect that to be an incredibly stomach-churning experience.

Camping near Downey

The hospital is not far from central Los Angeles, so most of your camping options are urban glamping (La Boheme and Airstream Glamping are top picks).

Camp Pendleton Area 41 (Oceanside, CA)

Camp Pendleton is a coastal US Marine Corps base with a history of inexplicable phenomenon: Locks tampered with, furniture displaced, items gone missing, and strange noises heard throughout the camp. Some of this has been attributed to a storied past of murdered priests and conflict with local Indigenous people, but many draw a link to one broken-hearted marine in particular. The story says that this marine, deeply in love, was shocked when his fiancé abruptly called things off. In his despair, he shot himself in a second-story room of the barracks. Thus, a general feeling of unease is common here and, to this day, marines claim to hear the faint sound of a man softly humming the “Jeopardy” game show theme song around the grounds. Entering the base itself requires certain visitor procedures—see more information here.

Camping near Oceanside

San Onofre State Beach is a gorgeous public camping option, 30 minutes from Camp Pendleton. For spots with more availability, try out Coastal Vintage Glamping or Apple Blossom Farms.

Prospectors Road (Garden Valley, CA)

Doors opening and closing on their own, frightened pets, and small items disappearing around the house—all common occurrences here. Georgetown was once a flourishing mining town in the mid-19th century, when some miners commonly made the mistake of drunkenly boasting of their riches at the local saloon. Competing miners would then ambush these unsuspecting braggarts on the dark road home, their bodies never to be found. One particular tale on the seven-mile stretch between Georgetown and Lotus involves an angry apparition commonly seen near the road’s embankment, pointing a finger and silently mouthing “Get off my claim.” To access the road itself for a spooky experience, head toward Lotus via Marshall Road until Garden Valley. Here, Prospector Road branches off from and runs parallel to Marshall.

Camping near Garden Valley

This part of the Sierra Nevada foothills is ripe with campgrounds. Forty minutes away by car, the Auburn State Recreation Area has three primitive campgrounds, while more private options include the sole group campsite at Animal Lovers Paradise in Greenwood and the Reverie Retreat cabin just 10 minutes away. Manzanita Camping and River Park Resort each hosts tent campers five minutes away on the South Fork of the American River.

The Vineyard House (Coloma, CA)

Coloma Gold Rush lore, it’s said that a once-successful vineyard owner, Robert, started to lose his mind. Prone to fits of rage, it’s said he would walk about the cemetery and lie down in grave plots with his arms crossed. His wife then constructed a small basement cell and locked him in it for fear of her own safety. Falling deeper into the throes of madness, Robert would groan and bang his head on the bars. He thought his wife was poisoning him so he stopped eating, dying of starvation shortly after. The vineyard eventually became a rooming house and restaurant, during which time guests heard ghostly footsteps, deep breathing, and banging noises. In one instance, a man fled his room late at night, refusing afterwards to reveal what he’d witnessed.

Camping near Coloma

This spot is just down the way from Prospectors Road in Garden Valley, so visitors will have access to all the same incredible campsites as mentioned above. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area and its campgrounds make for another scenic option—just head northeast on Rattlesnake Bar Road then take CA-49 to Coloma.

Black Star Canyon (Orange County, CA)

In 1831, this canyon was the site of a Native American massacre by fur traders. Then, in 1899, a man by the name of Henry Hungerford shot and killed a James Gregg over a $2.50 conflict that was a result of a horse trade. It is said that to this day, Gregg’s spirit can be heard and seen, looking for Hungerford, so he can get his revenge. Yet another Black Star Canyon tale speaks of a driver losing control of his bus and therefore killing all the children onboard. Some canyon visitors have claimed to hear the sound of screaming at the site, and others have noted feeling an intense, dark sadness. In current times, there have been allegations of cultic rituals occurring near the valley’s creek, and to top it all off, there’s also Black Star Bill, a mythed unhoused man who is said to fire his rifle at trespassers.

Camping near Black Star Canyon

O’Neill Regional Park is a popular Irvine park just 10 minutes outside the canyon, while The Ranch is a more private spot for RV campers nearby. Built in 1928, The Little House is a sweet Trabuco Canyon cabin with access to so much Southern California wilderness.