The Best Trail in Every State for That Halloween Atmosphere

Every fall, around the time when the leaves start yellowing the sides of the driveway and pumpkin spice lattes return to the menus of their local coffee shop habitats, many folks turn windward in search of the perfect October trail to kickstart the sweater-weather season. 

But October has a darker side. Beyond the comfort of sunlit foliage lies misty mornings, low fog drifting between the thinning branches, and daylight receding behind the ridges sooner than expected.

Most turn back before the shadows settle. Some don’t. They’re the hikers who prefer the quiet, the cold breath along the beaten paths, and the trails that carry an unmistakable air of Halloween. But what gives a place its eeriness? And where can you find such trails?

We looked at the data and analyzed national datasets on weather, forest coverage, elevation, and daylight to see what makes a trail truly ‘Halloweeny.’ Each of the 50 U.S. trails was scored across fog, cloudiness, rainfall, forest density, elevation, and sunset timing on Halloween day.

The result is a state-by-state list of the best U.S. trails that are most atmospheric to hike on Halloween. Before diving into the top rankings, here’s what the data revealed overall.

Key Findings

• The Most Atmospheric Low-Altitude Trail: Hoh River Trail, Washington (578 ft).
• The Foggiest Trails: Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte, North Carolina (7 days of fog).
• The Densest Forest Trail: Precipice Trail, Maine (89%).
• The Cloudiest Trail: Crow Pass Trail, Alaska (100 cloud score).
• The Rainiest October Trail: Precipice Trail, Maine (4.4 inches).
• The Earliest Sunset Trail: Precipice Trail, Maine (5:28 p.m.).
• The Highest Elevation Trail: Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine, New Hampshire (6,288 ft).
• The Clearest but Still Eerie Trail: Mount Greylock Summit, Massachusetts (45% cloud cover).

Top Ten States for the Halloween Atmosphere

1. Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine — New Hampshire

Leading the list with a Halloweeny Score of 69.7, Mount Washington blends high elevation (6,288 feet) with heavy October rainfall (4.3 inches) and steady cloud cover (47%). The mountain’s five fog days per month and dense 83% forest coverage wrap the trail in near-constant mist and chill. Early sunsets around 5:37 p.m. and limited 195 sunshine hours add to an atmosphere that feels suspended between autumn and winter.

2. Long Trail to Camel’s Hump — Vermont

Vermont’s Camel’s Hump section of the Long Trail ranks second at 64.8, marked by 49% cloud cover and matching five fog days that create soft light across its 4,083-foot elevation. With 76% forest density and 4.1 inches of October rain, the terrain balances gloom and vivid color beneath a thinning canopy. A sunset near 5:35 p.m. and 190 sunshine hours complete the muted, leaf-soaked quiet typical of northern New England’s end-of-season hikes.

3. Precipice Trail — Maine

The Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park follows closely with a 63.0 score, driven by the dataset’s highest forest density (89%) and equally frequent fog (5 days). Cloud cover averages 50% through October, while rainfall reaches 4.4 inches, ensuring slick granite and heavy maritime air along its coastal cliffs. With daylight receding by 5:28 p.m. and only 195 sunshine hours, the trail earns its place as the most atmospheric low-elevation hike (1,058 feet) in the country.

4. Devil’s Path — New York

New York’s Catskill Mountains entry, Devil’s Path, scores 59.1, reflecting a blend of 51% cloud cover, 4 fog days, and 3.8 inches of rain during October. The 63% forest density gives way to steep, rocky corridors that stay damp and dim beneath autumn’s early twilight (5:45 p.m. sunset). At 3,940 feet, the path’s shifting weather patterns and 183 sunshine hours sustain its name’s reputation as one of the region’s most foreboding routes.

5. Mount Greylock Summit — Massachusetts

Rounding out the top five, Mount Greylock earns a 58.8 score, characterized by 45% cloud cover, 5 fog days, and 4.2 inches of October precipitation. The state’s highest peak (3,491 feet) sits within a 61% forest density, where fog gathers in hollows below the summit’s exposed ridgeline. With 206 sunshine hours and a 5:42 p.m. sunset, Greylock’s late-day light creates a calm but unmistakably spectral tone across the Berkshire horizon.

6. Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte — North Carolina

North Carolina’s Alum Cave Trail reaches a 58.5 Halloweeny Score, pairing its 4,940-foot elevation with 3.7 inches of October rainfall and 46% cloud cover. The four fog days and 71% forest density yield crisp air and shifting shadows along narrow mountain ridges. With 198 sunshine hours and a 6:30 p.m. Halloween sunset, the trail offers a darker, cooler contrast to the southern Appalachian glow.

7. Crow Pass Trail — Alaska

Alaska’s Crow Pass Trail ranks seventh at 58.4, defined by 60% cloud cover and high October rainfall (4.8 inches). The 5,235-foot elevation combines with 79% forest density and five fog days to produce long stretches of low visibility. Even with 171 sunshine hours, the state’s 5:52 p.m. sunset and surrounding glacial peaks keep the trail cold, damp, and perfectly haunted in tone.

8. Hoh River Trail — Washington

The Hoh River Trail, deep within Olympic National Park, scores 56.4, carried by its constant cloud cover (62%) and lush forest density (90%) — one of the highest in the dataset. October brings 4.9 inches of rain and five fog days, coating the mossy rainforest in an almost fluorescent dimness. A 6:00 p.m. sunset and 175 sunshine hours maintain the still, dripping quiet that defines Washington’s autumn coast.

9. Endless Wall Trail — West Virginia

With a 55.7 score, West Virginia’s Endless Wall Trail combines 4.0 inches of rain, 47% cloud cover, and 71% forest density for a mist-filled October setting. Sitting at 2,396 feet, it experiences four fog days and 195 sunshine hours, where moisture from the New River Gorge often hangs until midday. The 6:23 p.m. sunset completes a landscape where cliffs and hardwoods fade into dusk almost at once.

10. Glen Onoko Falls Trail — Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Glen Onoko Falls Trail ties for ninth with 55.7, shaped by 4.1 inches of precipitation and 48% cloud cover through October. The 72% forest density and 3 fog days support a balanced but moody environment along its 1,214-foot elevation. With 203 sunshine hours and a 6:08 p.m. Halloween sunset, the falls echo that slow, leaf-darkened light that defines the state’s fall palette.

Spooky Data Insights

We noticed that half of the top ten trails for hiking on Halloween are in New England, while the rest extend south along the Appalachian range and west to the Pacific coast. The results indicate a common geographical and meteorological denominator which plays a significant role in these trails’ rankings.

Across these regions, the data clusters, more or less, around similar values: cloud cover between 45–51%, rainfall around 4 inches, and forest density between 60–90%, all of which contribute to subdued light and heavy moisture that builds the Halloweeny atmosphere on the trails. 

The remaining high scorers (in North Carolina, Alaska, Washington, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania) earn their rankings thanks to mountain fog, coastal rain, and rainforest and gorge humidity; all of which recreate the same low light atmosphere found in the Northeast.

Together, these findings suggest that the Halloweeny atmosphere relies more on the climate, rather than geography. But there is another “seasonal” score we wanted to investigate, just for fun, and that is…

The “Hoa Hoa Hoa” Score

While the Halloweeny Score looks at the metrics that contribute to the overall spookiness of a trail, the “Hoa Hoa Hoa” Score focuses on the mysterious, atmospheric aesthetic that feels like it could belong in The Twilight Saga.

We looked at the elements that quantify the vibe that’s gloomy, but not unsettling: 

• Fog Score (40%)
• Forest Density Score (40%)
• Early Sunset Score (20%)

The result surprised us:

1. Maine – Precipice Trail, Acadia National Park (79.6)
2. New Hampshire – Mount Washington, Tuckerman Ravine (75.1)
3. Alabama – Stephens Gap Cave Trail (72.6)

Maine’s leading score comes from its maritime climate, mixing high forest density with heavy coastal fog. This is the classic New England coastal chill, and the fact the sun is always struggling to break through either fog or the canopy makes the views from the Precipice Trail evoke the "hoa hoa hoa" vibe. 

In contrast, New Hampshire's Mount Washington seems to be the place where fog never lifts. With dense forests at its base and a summit that spends much of October inside the cloud line, the mountain creates a near-permanent, sunless veil. It’s different from Maine, but equally cinematic. 

Now, the inclusion of Alabama is most surprising. 

The result shows that fog and forest aren't exclusive to the North. Stephens Gap benefits from a subterranean gloom. Its limestone cave system traps moisture and mist during humid October mornings, producing that same cinematic vibe found much farther north, offering a damp, enveloping, and unexpected Hoa Hoa journey deep in the South.

An honorable mention

Just outside the top three, the Hoh River Trail in Washington State also scored highly (70.1), primarily due to its massive, deep forest coverage. However, its slightly later sunset on Halloween Day and fewer official fog days compared to the Northeast prevented it from claiming a top spot, proving you still early nightfall for a true Twilight perfection.

If there’s one kind of Halloween costume that earns a place past the end of the month, it’s the one that actually works on the trail. These KÜHL pieces aren’t costumes in the traditional sense, but they fit the mood — built for cool air, early sunsets, and the kind of fog that turns a fall hike into something cinematic.

A KÜHL Halloween Costume Idea

If there’s one kind of Halloween costume worth keeping in your closet, it’s the one that still makes sense after the party ends. So, this year, skip the capes and masks and show up as a hiker. It’s the only costume that fits both the Halloween mood and actually works on the trail.

For Him:

The KÜHL Joyrydr™ Shirt-Jac in Dark Forest blends the structure of a jacket with the comfort of a heavyweight flannel. It layers well over a base tee or under a shell when temperatures drop, and its brushed interior keeps the chill off during those long, low-light hikes. Pair it with durable hiking pants and you'll have a perfect outfit that looks natural on the trail, by the campfire, or in any town that feels perpetually overcast.

For Her:

The KÜHL Tess™ Flannel in Soft Pine brings classic plaid texture with a soft, breathable cotton-Tencel blend. It works just as well on its own as it does under a parka, balancing comfort with quiet, functional style. The flannel just belongs in a Halloween hike Polaroid: fog in the background, forest closing in, and a trail meandering in the background.

Conclusion

Taken together, the data indicates that the most Halloweeny trails in the United States are shaped by their local ecosystems in October. The same mix of fog, forest, and shortened days that defines the Northeast also appears along the Appalachians, across the Pacific Northwest, and even within the humid caverns of Alabama. But as the numbers show, some trails wear their Halloween costumes more convincingly than others.

Featured image by Aaron Huber.

Rank	State	Trail Name	Location	Cloud Cover Percent	October Fog Days	October Precipitation Inches	October Sunshine Hours	Halloween Sunset Time	Forest Density Percent	Trail Elevation Feet	Cloud Score	Fog Score	Rain Score	Low Sunshine Score	Early Sunset Score	Forest Density Score	High Elevation Score	HALLOWEENY SCORE
1	New Hampshire	Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine	White Mountain National Forest	47	5	4.3	195	5:37 PM	83	6288	65.3	62.5	95.6	36.9	64.1	93.3	78.6	69.7
2	Vermont	Long Trail to Camel's Hump	Camel's Hump State Park	49	5	4.1	190	5:35 PM	76	4083	68.1	62.5	91.1	38.5	66	85.4	51	64.8
3	Maine	Precipice Trail	Acadia National Park	50	5	4.4	195	5:28 PM	89	1058	69.4	62.5	97.8	36.9	72.8	100	13.2	63
4	New York	Devil's Path	Catskill Mountains	51	4	3.8	183	5:45 PM	63	3940	70.8	50	84.4	40.8	56.3	70.8	49.2	59.1
5	Massachusetts	Mount Greylock Summit	Mount Greylock State Reservation	45	5	4.2	206	5:42 PM	61	3491	62.5	62.5	93.3	33.3	59.2	68.5	43.6	58.8
6	North Carolina	Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	41	7	3.3	231	6:22 PM	61	6593	56.9	87.5	73.3	25.2	20.4	68.5	82.4	58.5
7	Alaska	Crow Pass Trail	Chugach State Park	72	4	2.7	127	5:47 PM	37	3550	100	50	60	58.9	54.4	41.6	44.4	58.4
8	Washington	Hoh River Trail	Olympic National Park	67	5	3.8	145	5:56 PM	52	578	93.1	62.5	84.4	53.1	45.6	58.4	7.2	56.4
9	West Virginia	Endless Wall Trail	New River Gorge National Park	48	6	3.2	193	6:18 PM	78	2650	66.7	75	71.1	37.5	24.3	87.6	33.1	55.7
10	Pennsylvania	Glen Onoko Falls Trail	Lehigh Gorge State Park	54	6	3.3	167	6:02 PM	59	1640	75	75	73.3	46	39.8	66.3	20.5	55.7
11	Virginia	Old Rag Mountain Trail	Shenandoah National Park	42	6	3.5	223	6:08 PM	63	3268	58.3	75	77.8	27.8	34	70.8	40.8	53.8
12	Connecticut	Sleeping Giant Tower Trail	Sleeping Giant State Park	48	5	4.1	199	5:45 PM	58	739	66.7	62.5	91.1	35.6	56.3	65.2	9.2	53.4
13	Rhode Island	Cliff Walk	Newport	45	6	4.2	209	5:43 PM	56	50	62.5	75	93.3	32.4	58.3	62.9	0.6	53.1
14	Alabama	Stephens Gap Cave Trail	Bankhead National Forest	41	6	3.2	232	5:48 PM	71	900	56.9	75	71.1	24.9	53.4	79.8	11.2	52.3
15	Tennessee	Alum Cave Trail	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	42	5	3.4	217	6:17 PM	53	5000	58.3	62.5	75.6	29.8	25.2	59.6	62.5	52.2
16	Mississippi	Tishomingo Nature Trail	Tishomingo State Park	40	5	4.1	241	5:44 PM	65	650	55.6	62.5	91.1	22	57.3	73	8.1	50.9
17	Oregon	Hoh Rainforest Trail	Olympic National Park (OR side)	61	4	3.3	152	5:58 PM	48	600	84.7	50	73.3	50.8	43.7	53.9	7.5	50.9
18	Louisiana	Barataria Preserve Trail	Jean Lafitte National Park	39	7	4.5	243	5:54 PM	54	3	54.2	87.5	100	21.4	47.6	60.7	0	50.7
19	Wisconsin	Devil's Lake Loop via Balanced Rock	Devil's Lake State Park	51	5	2.6	178	5:47 PM	49	1073	70.8	62.5	57.8	42.4	54.4	55.1	13.4	50.6
20	Arkansas	Hawksbill Crag Trail	Ozark National Forest	40	4	4.2	220	5:56 PM	57	2000	55.6	50	93.3	28.8	45.6	64	25	49.7
21	Georgia	Blood Mountain Trail	Chattahoochee National Forest	41	5	3.1	231	6:35 PM	67	4458	56.9	62.5	68.9	25.2	7.8	75.3	55.7	49.4
22	New Jersey	Dunnfield Creek to Sunfish Pond	Delaware Water Gap	43	5	3.7	205	5:50 PM	42	1527	59.7	62.5	82.2	33.7	51.5	47.2	19.1	49.3
23	Texas	Lost Mine Trail	Big Bend National Park	39	4	3.1	228	6:28 PM	38	6850	54.2	50	68.9	26.2	14.6	42.7	85.6	47.9
24	Montana	Highline Trail	Glacier National Park	47	3	1.1	186	6:05 PM	28	7000	65.3	37.5	24.4	39.8	36.9	31.5	87.5	47.2
25	Colorado	Stanley Hotel to Gem Lake	Rocky Mountain National Park	40	2	1.2	249	5:44 PM	34	8000	55.6	25	26.7	19.4	57.3	38.2	100	47
26	California	Lost Coast Trail	King Range National Conservation Area	45	8	2.1	200	6:04 PM	37	200	62.5	100	46.7	35.3	37.9	41.6	2.5	46.6
27	Michigan	Chapel Loop Trail	Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore	53	5	3	176	6:31 PM	56	720	73.6	62.5	66.7	43	11.7	62.9	9	46.1
28	Missouri	Devils Honeycomb Loop	Mark Twain National Forest	45	5	3.5	211	5:57 PM	35	1100	62.5	62.5	77.8	31.7	44.7	39.3	13.8	46
29	Idaho	Craters of the Moon Trail	Craters of the Moon National Monument	52	3	1.3	203	6:21 PM	41	6000	72.2	37.5	28.9	34.3	21.4	46.1	75	45.9
30	Maryland	Seneca Creek Greenway	Seneca Creek State Park	42	5	3.6	206	5:53 PM	39	350	58.3	62.5	80	33.3	48.5	43.8	4.4	45.6
31	Kentucky	Creation Falls via Auxier Ridge	Red River Gorge	47	5	3.4	209	6:30 PM	49	1200	65.3	62.5	75.6	32.4	12.6	55.1	15	44
32	Ohio	Ash Cave to Old Mans Cave	Hocking Hills State Park	52	6	3.1	183	6:28 PM	31	800	72.2	75	68.9	40.8	14.6	34.8	10	44
33	South Carolina	Congaree Boardwalk Loop	Congaree National Park	40	6	3.2	227	6:31 PM	67	80	55.6	75	71.1	26.5	11.7	75.3	1	43.9
34	Wyoming	Death Canyon Trail	Grand Teton National Park	43	2	1.3	215	5:59 PM	17	7500	59.7	25	28.9	30.4	42.7	19.1	93.8	43.5
35	Illinois	French Canyon-Starved Rock Loop	Starved Rock State Park	48	4	3.3	193	5:36 PM	14	425	66.7	50	73.3	37.5	65	15.7	5.3	43.4
36	Delaware	Gordons Pond Trail	Cape Henlopen State Park	42	5	3.5	206	5:53 PM	29	20	58.3	62.5	77.8	33.3	48.5	32.6	0.2	43.1
37	Minnesota	Devil's Kettle Trail	Judge C.R. Magney State Park	48	3	2.3	181	5:47 PM	34	1000	66.7	37.5	51.1	41.4	54.4	38.2	12.5	42.7
38	Indiana	Hemlock Cliffs Trail	Hoosier National Forest	50	6	3.2	197	6:43 PM	21	700	69.4	75	71.1	36.2	0	23.6	8.8	39.1
39	Iowa	Maquoketa Caves Trail	Maquoketa Caves State Park	49	4	2.7	198	5:58 PM	8	1050	68.1	50	60	35.9	43.7	9	13.1	39
40	Nebraska	Toadstool Geologic Trail	Oglala National Grassland	44	4	2.1	210	6:09 PM	3	3400	61.1	50	46.7	32	33	3.4	42.5	38
41	Oklahoma	Elk Mountain Trail	Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge	37	3	3.2	245	6:11 PM	28	2464	51.4	37.5	71.1	20.7	31.1	31.5	30.8	37.6
42	Utah	The Maze	Canyonlands National Park	36	2	1.1	250	6:17 PM	35	5200	50	25	24.4	19.1	25.2	39.3	65	36
43	Hawaii	Kilauea Iki Trail	Hawaii Volcanoes National Park	31	0	2.8	217	6:02 PM	36	3600	43.1	0	62.2	29.8	39.8	40.4	45	35.9
44	Kansas	Tallgrass Prairie Trail	Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve	42	4	2.8	214	6:09 PM	5	1350	58.3	50	62.2	30.7	33	5.6	16.9	35.4
45	South Dakota	Notch Trail	Badlands National Park	46	3	2	195	6:11 PM	4	2500	63.9	37.5	44.4	36.9	31.1	4.5	31.2	35.2
46	North Dakota	Petrified Forest Loop	Theodore Roosevelt National Park	48	3	1.7	185	6:09 PM	2	2300	66.7	37.5	37.8	40.1	33	2.2	28.7	35
47	New Mexico	Carlsbad Caverns Big Room	Carlsbad Caverns National Park	26	2	1	270	5:53 PM	32	4400	36.1	25	22.2	12.6	48.5	36	55	34.2
48	Florida	Gator Hook Trail	Big Cypress National Preserve	38	4	3	260	6:43 PM	50	20	52.8	50	66.7	15.9	0	56.2	0.2	32.9
49	Arizona	Bright Angel Trail	Grand Canyon National Park	23	0.2	0.7	309	5:34 PM	26	4500	31.9	2.5	15.6	0	67	29.2	56.2	29.6
50	Nevada	Cathedral Gorge Cave Trail	Cathedral Gorge State Park	24	0.2	0.5	304	5:50 PM	15	4800	33.3	2.5	11.1	1.6	51.5	16.9	60	26

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Methodology

This campaign ranks the most atmospherically dark and gloomy hiking trail in each of the 50 U.S. states using ONLY quantifiable weather and natural environment data.

No historical events, ghost stories, or paranormal claims are included.

The result is a "Halloweeny Score" (0-100 scale) that measures how dark and atmospheric each trail feels during peak Halloween season based purely on:

• Weather conditions (cloud cover, fog, rain, sunshine, sunset timing)
• Natural environment (forest density, elevation)

How did we choose the trails?

For each state, ONE trail was selected based on these nature-focused criteria:

Selection Criteria (Priority Order):

1. Dense Forest Cover (30% consideration)

• Trails through old-growth forests
• Areas with heavy canopy coverage
• Minimal light penetration to trail floor
• Preference for coniferous forests (darker than deciduous)

2. Fog/Mist Propensity (25% consideration)

• Coastal trails in marine layer zones
• Valley trails prone to morning fog
• High-elevation trails in cloud zones
• Temperate rainforest environments

3. High Elevation (20% consideration)

• Alpine and subalpine trails
• Mountain summit trails
• Trails above treeline exposed to weather
• Higher elevation = more cloud/fog interaction

4. Geographic Isolation (15% consideration)

• Remote backcountry access
• Distance from urban light pollution
• Minimal trail traffic
• Wilderness designation areas

5. Trail Accessibility (10% consideration)

• Must be open to public (not closed seasonally in October)
• Documented trail with maps available
• Not extreme technical climbing requiring gear
• Preference for popular trails with established data

Trail Information Sources

• National Park Service (NPS): Official trail data, elevation profiles
• AllTrails.com: User data, popularity, difficulty