These Are 12 Haunted Roads In California You Shouldn’t Drive Down On Halloween
California isn’t all sunshine and palm trees. Behind the scenic drives and coastal highways lurk roads steeped in dark histories, strange sightings, and tales that refuse to fade.
These asphalt ribbons wind through canyons, mountains, and valleys where locals swap stories about vanishing hitchhikers, shadowy figures, and unexplained lights that appear after sunset.
On Halloween night, when the veil between worlds feels thinnest, these routes take on an even eerier atmosphere. If you’re brave enough to explore them, remember to drive carefully, respect the communities along the way, and maybe keep your headlights on high beam.
Get ready to discover California’s most spine-tingling stretches of pavement.
1. Hecker Pass (CA-152) – Gilroy to Watsonville
Locals around Mount Madonna have been whispering about the Lady in White for generations.
She appears near the twisting mountain curves, sometimes as a hitchhiker in flowing garments, other times astride a ghostly pale horse that vanishes into the fog.
The pass itself is a legitimate route connecting Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, but those hairpin turns demand full attention.
Fog rolls in thick here, cutting visibility to almost nothing in seconds. If you decide to take this road on Halloween, slow down well before each bend and avoid pulling onto narrow shoulders where there’s barely room to breathe.
The legend might be spooky, but the real danger is losing control on these steep grades.
2. Niles Canyon Road (CA-84) – Fremont to Sunol
Bay Area folklore centers on a young woman who flags down drivers, asks for a lift, then disappears before reaching the Dumbarton Bridge.
Witnesses claim she reappears most often in late February, but Halloween brings out plenty of curious thrill-seekers hoping for their own encounter. This busy canyon route sees regular traffic, so you won’t be alone out there.
Still, the curves are tight, and visibility drops dramatically after sunset. Motorcyclists and car clubs love this road during daylight, but nighttime transforms it into something altogether different.
Keep your speed in check, stay alert for other vehicles, and don’t let ghost stories distract you from the very real challenge of navigating these winding miles safely.
3. Creek Road – Ojai, Ventura County
Camp Comfort Bridge sits at the heart of the Char Man legend, a tale involving a burnt figure who supposedly roams the roadside screaming at passersby.
Generations of Ojai teenagers have dared each other to drive this stretch after dark, hoping to catch a glimpse or at least feel a chill run down their spine. The road itself is perfectly public and drivable year-round.
What makes it unsettling is the combination of dense trees, limited streetlights, and the weight of local lore that hangs in the air.
Respect the residents who live along Creek Road and avoid trespassing onto private property or stopping in unsafe spots.
The legend is fun to talk about, but being a responsible visitor matters more than chasing shadows.
4. Turnbull Canyon Road – Whittier and Hacienda Heights
Rolling hills and pretty views make Turnbull Canyon a popular commuter shortcut by day.
Once the sun sets, however, the road’s darker history surfaces in the form of shadow figures, cult rumors, and tales tied to a 1952 plane crash deep in the canyon.
Crime scenes from decades past add another layer to the unease that drivers report feeling here.
It’s a legitimate route, so expect other cars even late at night. Watch your speed on the blind curves and be mindful of permit-parking zones near trailheads where hikers leave their vehicles.
The spooky reputation might draw you in, but the real thrill is navigating those sharp bends without letting your imagination run wild and distract you from the road ahead.
5. Black Star Canyon Road – Silverado Area, Orange County
Trailheads and wilderness beckon along this rural lane, but the canyon itself has long been associated with restless spirits and unexplained sounds echoing off the hillsides.
Hikers and off-roaders visit during daylight hours without incident, yet after dark, the atmosphere shifts into something far more unsettling. Portions beyond the gates are closed to vehicles, so respect those barriers.
Stay on the public roadway and designated parking areas if you decide to explore. Wildlife becomes more active after sunset, and encountering a coyote or mountain lion is more likely than meeting a ghost.
Bring a flashlight, keep your car doors locked if you stop, and remember that the real danger here is underestimating how remote and rugged Orange County’s backcountry can be.
6. Proctor Valley Road – Chula Vista to Jamul
Five miles of dirt and washboards connect Chula Vista to Jamul, and along the way, you’ll hear tales of the Proctor Valley Monster, phantom lights, and vehicles that mysteriously stall in the middle of nowhere.
Conditions vary wildly depending on recent weather, so a low-clearance sedan might struggle where a truck breezes through. Dust clouds can choke visibility, and the darkness out here is absolute.
Check access and weather forecasts before attempting this route, especially on Halloween when fog or rain can turn the road into a muddy mess. Cell service is spotty, so if something goes wrong, help might be a long time coming.
The legends are entertaining, but getting stuck in the dark is a very real possibility that no ghost story can prepare you for.
7. Hicks Road – Almaden Valley, San Jose
San Jose’s most enduring campfire legend centers on Hicks Road, where stories of nocturnal cults, an alleged albino colony, and mysterious figures near abandoned mercury mines have circulated for decades.
The road itself is a public thoroughfare, but it’s incredibly narrow and pitch-black after sunset. Trees crowd both sides, creating a tunnel effect that feels claustrophobic even with headlights on.
If you need to pull over, use designated turnouts rather than blocking someone’s driveway or private access. Locals who live along Hicks Road are used to curious visitors, but trespassing or making noise late at night won’t win you any friends.
The legends might be exaggerated, but the tight curves and lack of lighting are genuine hazards that demand your full attention.
8. Ortega Highway (CA-74) – San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore
Stunning vistas by day turn into something far more sinister after dark on Ortega Highway. Steep grades, hairpin bends, and a tragic history of accidents have spawned countless hitchhiker and Lady in White sightings over the years.
The California Highway Patrol monitors this route heavily for speeding and unsafe passing, so keep your driving clean and your patience high.
Only tackle this road if you’re well-rested and comfortable with mountain driving. Fatigue and distraction are your worst enemies here, far more dangerous than any spectral figure. The scenery is gorgeous, but the margin for error is slim.
If you’re out on Halloween, expect other thrill-seekers and possibly more CHP presence, making it even more important to stay focused and drive defensively.
9. Pacheco Pass (CA-152) – Gilroy to Los Baños
East of Hecker Pass, this stretch of CA-152 earned the grim nickname Blood Alley thanks to decades of serious collisions.
Ghost reports are equally long-standing, with travelers claiming to see monks, mourners, and inexplicable figures near San Luis Reservoir.
The road is a busy corridor for trucks hauling goods between the Bay Area and the Central Valley, so expect heavy traffic and crosswinds that can push lighter vehicles around.
Caution is essential here, especially after dark when fatigue and reduced visibility amplify every risk. The legends add an eerie layer to an already challenging drive, but the real hazards are big rigs, gusty winds, and drivers who underestimate the pass.
Keep your speed reasonable, stay in your lane, and save the ghost stories for when you’re safely off the road.
10. Highway 1, Big Sur – Santa Lucia Range
Twilight along Big Sur brings out reports of the Dark Watchers, towering silhouettes wearing wide-brimmed hats that appear on ridgelines above the highway.
Drivers swear they feel observed by these silent figures, though explanations range from optical illusions to ancient folklore.
The scenery is breathtaking, but the road demands absolute focus because shoulders are scarce and cliffs drop straight to the ocean.
Don’t brake suddenly if you think you spot something unusual on the ridge. A panic stop can cause a rear-end collision or send you over the edge.
The Dark Watchers legend adds mystique to an already iconic drive, but the real thrill is navigating these curves safely and soaking in the views.
Save your sightseeing for designated pullouts where you can stop without endangering yourself or others.
11. San Francisquito Canyon Road – North of Santa Clarita
The 1928 St. Francis Dam disaster left a scar on this canyon that locals say has never fully healed. Hundreds lost their lives when the dam failed, and stories of apparitions and eerie echoes along the flood path have persisted ever since.
Parts of the road alignment were rebuilt after the catastrophe, so today’s route doesn’t follow the exact original path, but the weight of history is impossible to ignore.
It’s a public backroad with minimal lighting, so if you drive it at night, expect long stretches of total darkness. The pavement is decent, but the isolation can feel oppressive, especially if you’re alone.
Respect the memory of those who perished by driving carefully and not treating the area as a thrill-seeking playground. The past is heavy here.
12. Pearblossom Highway (CA-138) – Antelope Valley
Blood Alley is the nickname that stuck to this stretch of CA-138, earned through a brutal history of high-speed crashes on near-deserted pavement.
The road is deceptively straight, lulling drivers into pushing their speed until a gust of wind or a moment of inattention turns fatal.
Legends of ghostly presences practically wrote themselves, given the number of tragedies that have occurred here over the decades.
Services are sparse, so fuel up before you head out and don’t expect much help if something goes wrong. Crosswinds can be fierce, especially for high-profile vehicles or motorcycles.
The landscape feels empty and exposed, adding to the eerie atmosphere after dark. If you drive Pearblossom Highway on Halloween, keep your speed in check and your focus sharp, because the real danger has nothing supernatural about it.