California is known for its sun and beaches. But under the palm trees and down quiet roads, old ghosts and abandoned places wait. The state is full of creepy spots that are off-limits, but they still draw brave travelers.

How many ghost towns are in California? You might be surprised: there are around 346 ghost towns and empty mining camps! Nearly 45% of Americans believe in ghosts. Because so many people enjoy a good scare, California’s haunted locations attract thousands of visitors each year who want to mix history with chills.

Before you venture off to explore California’s haunted mansions and ghost towns, make sure your road trip is prepared for anything—both supernatural and financial. If unexpected costs pop up (like a flat tire in the middle of nowhere or a surprise tow from a ghostly dead end), emergency loans for road trippers in California can be a lifesaver. Always plan for the unexpected, haunted or otherwise.

Curious where to find California’s creepiest spots? Let’s dive into the haunted side of the Golden State.

 

Ghost Town Road Trips

California once experienced a gold and silver rush. When the metals ran out, the people left. Now, these ghost towns in California sit quietly in the desert and mountains. Walking through them feels like a spooky movie:

 

Calico Ghost Town

Head south into the Mojave Desert to visit Calico Ghost Town, just off I-15 near Barstow. In the 1880s, Calico boomed with the arrival of silver miners; today, San Bernardino County operates it as a park. At noon, actors stage loud gunfights in the street. After dark, guides lead “haunted saloon” tours that share local legends and ghost stories.

Some guests claim to see Marshal Tumbleweed Harris, a ghostly lawman who still patrols the town on bright moonlit nights. Calico also hosts night ghost walks and seasonal Halloween events. Even if you skip the tours, a daytime visit offers an easy, family-friendly taste of the Old West — with just enough spooky atmosphere to keep things exciting.

 

Shasta City

Shasta City sits off Highway 299, six miles west of Redding. In the 1850s, it was known as the “Queen City of the North,” boasting saloons, hotels, and a population of 3,000 miners. When a deadly wildfire burns broke out and the railroad bypassed the town, everyone left. Today, Shasta State Historic Park preserves the brick ruins that line what was once Main Street.

In the courthouse basement, people feel a chill in the air and hear keys jingle, even though no guard is present. On Saturday nights, lantern tours take you past old shops while costumed guides share stories of gunfights and hangings. The park also offers picnic tables, restrooms, and a small shop that sells gold panning kits.

 

Eureka

Eureka sits on Highway 101, where the redwoods meet the sea, about five hours north of San Francisco. In the 1880s, it experienced a boom thanks to timber and gold. A few miles south, the logging town of Falk housed 400 workers, a school, and a dance hall. When the mill closed in 1937, everyone left. Today, the Headwaters Forest Reserve covers the site. All you see are mossy stumps, a brick chimney, and old metal saw blades peeking through the ivy.

Hike the wide path to Fern Canyon Bridge. On foggy evenings, the forest is so quiet you might imagine axes chopping or men singing camp songs. Back in Eureka, locals love ghost stories. The Eagle House Inn, built in 1888, is home to two well-known spirits. A friendly sea captain smells of tar and pipe smoke, and a small boy rolls a red ball down the hallway.

 

Bodie

Drive east into the Sierra Nevada to reach Bodie, the best-known ghost town in California. In 1879, it had nearly 10,000 residents. By the 1940s, hardly anyone was left. Today, Bodie State Historical Park preserves 170 dusty buildings just as they were—no shops, no electricity, only quiet streets and ghost stories.

Many visitors swear the town feels haunted. A local legend warns of the “Bodie curse”: take a rock or souvenir, and bad luck follows until you bring it back. In the hilltop graveyard, a marble statue called the “Angel of Bodie” is said to come alive and play with children. Wander through Bodie at sunset, and the wind pushes tumbleweeds down Main Street; you might imagine unseen footsteps chasing them.

 

Columbia State Historic Park

A half-hour from Malakoff, Columbia (on Highway 49) is a fully restored Gold Rush town and now a California State Park. Its 1860s Main Street is lined with historic storefronts, a saloon, a church, and a two-story wooden hotel. Ghost tours are a nightly tradition here during the summer.

At sundown, costumed guides lead “Ghost Walks” beneath flickering gas lamps. They tell true tales: of the outlaw who hid in the jail, the preacher who took his own life, and the miner lost in the snow. Some Columbia tours even end inside the old jail or the historic hangman’s chamber. You can feel the 19th-century atmosphere there.

 

Malakoff Diggins (Nevada City)

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park sits just west of Grass Valley. It once housed California’s largest hydraulic gold mine. The site now stands as a powerful reminder of the state’s rich mining history. Today, the land appears scarred and empty, with tall gravel piles and rusty pipes scattered across the hills. At sunset, those broken machines cast eerie shadows, as if the past still lingers among them.

A park ranger once showed visitors a strange photo taken through the window of an old cabin. When the flash went off, a pale, translucent face appeared on the glass. Locals refer to it as the “Malakoff Cabin ghost.” Hikers also report feeling watched in the silent woods at dusk.

 

Haunted Hotels & Houses

Even modern California still has its share of haunted houses in California:

 

Winchester Mystery House in San Jose

Sarah Winchester spent decades adding rooms to her 160-room Victorian mansion. She was the widow of the rifle manufacturer and feared the angry spirits of those killed by Winchester guns. To protect herself, she ordered new hallways, doors, and staircases to be built around the clock.

The bizarre history of California’s Winchester Mystery House has fascinated visitors for over a century, blending legend, grief, and architectural oddities. Today, visitors walk through secret passages, mirror mazes, and a “staircase to nowhere.” Some report flickering lights in the Hall of Mysteries or hear children’s laughter in empty rooms late at night. Guides say Sarah kept building to confuse any spirit that might try to follow her.

 

Whaley House (San Diego)

The Whaley House in San Diego’s historic Old Town is often referred to as “America’s Most Haunted House.” Built in 1857, it originally served as the Whaley family home before later becoming a courthouse and a small theater. Several family members, including baby Thomas Jr. and daughter Violet, died there, and many believe their spirits remain.

Visitors and staff sometimes report seeing small figures resembling the Whaley children moving from room to room. A piano occasionally plays a few notes by itself. Guides even mention a polite ghost that gently closes guest room doors at night. TV host Regis Philbin once claimed an invisible hand touched his shoulder during a tour. Today, the house operates as a museum.

 

Queen Mary (Long Beach)

The RMS Queen Mary is moored in the Port of Los Angeles, now operating as a hotel and museum. Many consider it one of the most haunted ships in the world. Over its years of sailing and military service, 49 people died on board. Paranormal investigators believe that as many as 150 spirits may still linger.

Guides point out “Door 13” in the engine room, where a crewman was crushed during a drill in 1966. They also highlight the two now-empty swimming pools. Visitors have reported hearing splashes and seeing a little girl in a 1930s swimsuit near the first-class pool. Even without a tour, the ship gives off an eerie vibe—deck planks creak, and sudden cold spots appear in the quiet hallways.

 

Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles)

Downtown Los Angeles has its share of haunted lodging. The old Broadway Hotel, later renamed the Cecil Hotel, was infamous in the early 1900s for prostitution and violence; in later decades, it gained a grim reputation due to a series of suicides. In 2013, it became known worldwide for the mysterious death of a young guest, Elisa Lam.

The Victorian-style building—recently renovated and reopened as Stay on Main—still attracts ghost enthusiasts. Guests and staff report flickering lights and the smell of cigarette smoke in empty hallways. Security cameras have even captured unexplained footage.

 

Hotel del Coronado (San Diego)

On Coronado Island, the luxurious Hotel del Coronado (built in 1888) is home to one of California’s most elegant ghost stories. In 1892, a beautiful young guest named Kate Morgan checked in under a false name and was later found dead on the beach outside the hotel—an apparent suicide. Since then, she has become the hotel’s most famous spirit. Many guests report hearing sobbing or footsteps at night.

Housekeepers say they sometimes feel Kate’s presence in Room 3322, one floor above where she died. The scent of roses—Kate’s favorite—or an unexplained cool breeze are common. The hotel acknowledges her story on guided tours and often jokes that Kate enjoys leaving bouquets of roses in the lobby.

The tragic mystery of the Hotel del Coronado continues to captivate visitors, with many still questioning what really happened that night. Her story remains one of the most talked-about legends in California’s haunted history.

 

Other Haunts

Elsewhere in California, historic homes and hotels claim their specters. In Santa Barbara, a mansion called La Casa del Mar has tales of a bride who vanished on her wedding night. In Berkeley, a Victorian at Rose Walk is said to host a phantom drunk outside the door. Some urban legends even involve theme parks.

And it’s a running joke that Hollywood studios might be where dead stars still drop by — but those “ghost sightings” are usually just cheesy tour lines. When you visit the most haunted places in California, remember: the scariest ghosts may be in your imagination, fueled by clever lighting and storytelling.

 

Creepy Stats and Legends from Haunted California

Some strange stats about California’s haunted side are:

 

Ghost Belief

Nearly half of American adults believe in ghosts, and 43% think spirits can return to haunt people or places. Another survey found that about 18% have felt or seen a ghost. That’s a lot of believers—one reason ghost tours and haunted attractions continue to draw large crowds. You can bet California’s big cities and dusty highways are full of ghost enthusiasts ready to share a story.

 

Road Travel

California’s roads are always busy. Around 39.4 million Americans are expected to travel over Memorial Day 2025, and 87% will go by car. Even if only a few are chasing ghosts, that still adds up to millions of spooky road trips. Routes like Highway 1 along the coast, the Sierra backroads, and the Mojave Freeway connect haunted spots with surprising ease. Still, rural stretches can be risky—one dark desert road can feel terrifying fast if you’re not prepared.

 

Haunted Tourism

Ghost tours are big business. Across the U.S., guiding people through creepy history has become a multimillion-dollar industry. Salem, Massachusetts—famous for its witch trials—now draws over a million visitors each year, many coming specifically for paranormal experiences. California’s historic towns are also tapping into the spooky trend. For example, Grass Valley in the Gold Country hosts annual ghost tours and haunted hikes.

 

Native Legends

Not all hauntings involve ghosts. California’s Native American history is rich with spiritual stories. One example is the island of Tuluwat near Eureka, the site of a brutal massacre in 1860. The land was only recently returned to Wiyot stewardship. For the Wiyot people, that memory remains deeply present—and some say the place is still haunted by its past.

 

Haunted Travel Tips

A few more safety tips for haunted roads will be helpful:

• Stay together. Bring friends or family. Never travel alone after dark! Exploring in pairs or small groups is safer and more fun when someone else can share the scare.
• Respect the sites. Many haunted attractions are on historic or private land. Follow posted rules: do not trespass, do not remove artifacts, do not dig up graves.
• Bring the right gear. Besides a good camping flashlight, bring a camera or smartphone. You might catch a mystery orb, or that distant cabin window glow on film.
• Be a good storyteller. If you do experience something out of the ordinary, document it. Write notes: what you saw or heard when it happened, and where exactly.

 

Final Thought

With a little planning and a spirit of adventure, your haunted road trip through California can be both safe and unforgettable. Pack wisely, respect the legends tied to each place, and remember — the scariest facts about California are often the ones you take home as stories. Happy ghost hunting!

 

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