West Virginia Paranormal Trail Returns With Local Haunts and More
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Department of Tourism announced the return of the popular West Virginia Paranormal Trail.
Since its official launch in 2024, the trail has received nearly 14,000 sign-ups from visitors around the globe and includes 20 hair-raising locations.
This free, self-guided experience highlights some of West Virginia's most legendary paranormal destinations, from historic asylums and haunted theaters to mysterious cryptid sites and spine-tingling tunnels.
To uncover West Virginia's chilling tales and legendary haunts, travelers can register online and instantly receive a digital passport by email or text. Previous participants must register again to receive a new digital passport and be eligible for the 2026 challenge.
Spooky enthusiasts then have the chance to explore eerie locations around the state while earning exclusive prizes along the way.
– Check in at three or more spots and receive a glow-in-the-dark sticker.
– Check in at eight or more spots and receive a custom beanie.
– Check in at 15 or more spots and receive an adventure-ready lantern.
– Check in at all locations and receive a limited-edition poster.
Participants who visit all locations will be entered to win the grand prize of a gift certificate valid for an overnight tour at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum for two people. The winner will be announced in January 2027.
A local stop on the trail in the Northern Panhandle, the Hempfield Tunnel in Wheeling is believed to be haunted by the souls of those buried beneath its tracks and those who met tragic ends within its walls. The Hempfield Tunnel is located along the Wheeling Heritage Trail at Tunnel Green and stands as a chilling reminder of the area's dark past.
Travelers report eerie sounds, sudden chills and fleeting shadows that seem to vanish into the tunnel's depths, adding to its reputation as a hotspot for paranormal activity. With its looming stone archways and shadowed interior, the tunnel draws history buffs, thrill-seekers and ghost hunters alike, offering a spine-tingling glimpse into the mysteries and tragedies lingering along its tracks.
In a July 1869 edition of The Intelligencer, it is stated three ghost sightings were "confirmed." In 1874, a New York journalist claimed to have seen an apparition in the tunnel. Ghosts have been seen hanging from the roof of the tunnel and visitors have sworn to have seen figures floating above the tracks.
Some blame the haunting on the fact a graveyard was unearthed and reportedly robbed during construction of the tunnel.
In Moundsville, the West Virginia Penitentiary is also part of the West Virginia Paranormal Trail. The state penitentiary was operated from 1866 to 1995 and is a striking example of Gothic Revival architecture. Behind its imposing stone walls the prison witnessed overcrowding, difficult conditions and a long, complex history that included riots, escapes and more than 90 executions.
Today, the site serves as both a museum and a place of reflection, offering historical tours that shed light on life inside the prison as well as ghost hunts and paranormal investigations for those drawn to its haunted reputation.
One new location was added to the West Virginia Paranormal Trail this year. Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park features a Civil War battlefield turned state park that ranks among the region's most haunted locations, with ghostly encounters reported throughout its grounds.
Other stops on the West Virginia Paranormal Trail include:
– Apollo Civic Theater in Martinsburg
– Bigfoot Statue on Elk River Trail near Ivydale
– Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg
– Cryptid Mountain Miniature Golf in Morgantown
– Flatwoods Monster Museum in Sutton
– The Flinderation Tunnel in Salem
– Ghost Tours of Harpers Ferry
– Greenbrier Valley Theater in Lewisburg
– Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant
– Shepherdstown Ghost Tours
– Shepherdstown Mystery Walks
– Silver Run Tunnel #19 on the North Bend Rail Trail in Cairo
– The Haunted Haymond in Sutton
– Historic Glen Ferris Inn
– The Old Hospital on College Hill in Williamson
– West Virginia Bigfoot Museum in Sutton
– Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston
Click on the interactive state map for the West Virginia Paranormal Trail, view detailed information about each stop on the 2026 tour, register for a digital passport to participate and check out the cool prizes available for completing visits to the spooky sites at wvtourism.com/paranormal.