great hiking horror novels

The unknown is also a key factor. In many hiking horror novels, the characters stumble upon something they don't understand, like in 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer. The area they are hiking in, 'Area X', has strange and unexplainable phenomena. The mystery of what could be out there in the uncharted hiking territory creates fear.

'Desperation' by Stephen King can also be considered in this category. Although not strictly about hiking, there are elements of being in a desolate, small - town environment that gives a similar sense of dread as one might experience while hiking in an unknown and dangerous place. The strange and malevolent forces at work in the town add to the horror factor.

One midnight hiking horror story is about a hiker who heard strange whispers in the woods. As he continued, he felt a cold breeze but there was no wind. Suddenly, he saw a figure in white that vanished when he blinked. He ran out of the forest as fast as he could.

There was this hiker who followed a seemingly innocent trail. As he walked, he noticed that the trees around him were marked with strange symbols. He then started to feel like he was being watched. When he turned around, he thought he saw a figure in the distance, but when he blinked, it was gone. He quickened his pace but felt as if something was following him the whole time.

The unknown is a really scary element. For example, not knowing what that strange noise in the dark forest is. It could be a harmless animal or something more sinister.

A dad and his daughter once went on a challenging hike up a mountain. The daughter got tired halfway, but the dad encouraged her by telling stories of the amazing view at the top. When they reached the summit, she was in awe of the beauty and it strengthened their bond.

The scariest element is often the unknown. In the dark of night during a hike, not knowing what's out there can be terrifying. You might hear strange noises but not be able to see the source.

Encountering strange or unexplained things like mysterious symbols on trees, old and creepy cabins in the middle of nowhere, or seeing apparitions. It's the unknown nature of these things that makes them so terrifying. For instance, a hiker might see a figure that disappears when they look directly at it, leaving them to wonder if it was real or just their imagination playing tricks on them.

I know of a group of hikers who decided to hike in an area known for its haunted reputation. They camped near a stream at night. One of the hikers woke up in the middle of the night to see a figure standing by the water. It was translucent and seemed to be looking right at them. The whole group was terrified. They quickly packed up their things and left the area as soon as possible, abandoning their planned route.

There was a hiker who didn't follow the marked trails. He thought he could find a shortcut. But he ended up on a very steep and dangerous slope. His foot slipped and he tumbled down a bit. He was stranded there for hours until other hikers heard his calls for help and were able to assist him in getting back to a safe path.