25 SCARIEST Bigfoot Encounters Caught While Hiking
Terrifying Bigfoot Footage, True Hiking Horror Stories, and Unexplained Sasquatch Encounters in the Deep Forest
Hiking is often seen as a peaceful escape into nature, a way to disconnect from modern life and reconnect with the wilderness. But for some, stepping deep into the forest has led to encounters so disturbing that they still struggle to explain what they witnessed. Over the years, hikers across the world have captured chilling footage and shared terrifying true stories involving Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and other unexplained creatures. These are not polished documentaries or scripted scenes. They are raw moments of fear, confusion, and disbelief recorded by ordinary people who never expected their hike to turn into a nightmare.
One of the most unsettling Bigfoot encounters occurred during a solo hike when a man noticed a large brown figure slowly walking uphill ahead of him. The figure moved deliberately, its size immediately standing out against the surrounding trees. Sensing danger, the hiker quickly recorded the scene before leaving the area as fast as possible. When the footage was later uploaded online, viewers fiercely debated whether it showed a real Sasquatch or a staged hoax. The uncertainty only added to the fear, because even skeptics admitted the movement and proportions of the figure were deeply unsettling.
This same hiker later revealed more details about his experience, which made the story even more disturbing. The encounter took place on May 13th, 2017, deep inside Burkehead Mountains National Forest in North Carolina. Heavy rain had soaked the area, and he was nearly ten miles from his vehicle with no other hikers around. Earlier that day, he discovered massive humanoid footprints pressed into red Carolina clay, measuring between fifteen and twenty inches long. At the time, he dismissed them as a strange coincidence. That night, however, everything changed when he woke to high-pitched screams, gurgling noises, and unnatural moans echoing through the forest. Fearing whatever was nearby, he abandoned his campsite and hiked out in the dark, an experience that still haunts him.
Another chilling encounter came from Russia, where a group of friends were involved in a roadside car crash. While one of the women recorded the aftermath on her phone, the camera captured something disturbing in the trees along the roadside. A tall, dark figure with long arms appeared briefly against the tree line before the video ended. No explanation was ever provided, and the footage left viewers questioning whether the stress of the accident revealed something that had been lurking nearby all along.
Some Bigfoot sightings spark debate not because they are frightening, but because they are eerily similar. Two separate photos posted from Virginia, taken by different people at different times, appeared to show nearly identical dark figures. Many commenters suggested the images could depict the same Sasquatch roaming the area. Wildlife experts, however, argued the shapes resembled young black bears standing upright. Even so, the human-like posture of bears in certain conditions has only added to the confusion surrounding Bigfoot footage and why it remains so controversial.
In 2016, a man named Don Avon recorded a strange figure while spending time in a wooded area somewhere in the United States. The figure appeared larger than a human, with long arms and a slow, lumbering gait. Although Don captured a video, only a single screenshot was ever shared online, raising doubts about authenticity. Still, the image continues to circulate because the silhouette closely matches classic descriptions of Bigfoot, leaving many to wonder what the full footage might have shown.
One of the most dramatic multi-day encounters took place near Hudoo Creek in eastern Oregon in 2004. Over three days, campers reported seeing large upright figures, being followed near their campsite, and hearing screams echoing from a canyon. Branches were even thrown downhill toward witnesses. A hiker recorded video during this time, leading many to believe the footage may show the same creature described by multiple people. The consistency of the reports adds weight to the idea that something unexplained was moving through the area.
Another mysterious video uploaded in 2011 near Provo, Utah, shows a large figure partially hidden by vegetation. The group filming claimed they were actively searching for Bigfoot when they spotted it. The figure appeared to match the estimated height range of Sasquatch, yet no follow-up information was ever released. The lack of updates has left the encounter suspended in uncertainty, a common theme in scary Bigfoot stories.
A particularly aggressive moment was captured on the television show Finding Bigfoot, filmed in Ohio. The footage shows a tall humanoid figure violently shaking a tree from side to side. The intensity of the movement terrified the crew, who could be heard urging each other to retreat. The clip cuts off abruptly, leaving viewers with no explanation of what happened next and reinforcing the fear that some encounters may end too dangerously to document.
Bigfoot-like creatures are not limited to North America. In Australia, Aboriginal folklore speaks of the Yowie, a large human-like being reported in remote regions. Researchers have collected hundreds of reports over decades describing similar appearances and powerful vocalizations. Recent accounts include hikers being pushed during bushwalks and drivers seeing tall figures crossing roads late at night, suggesting the phenomenon may be global.
Thermal footage has added a new layer to Bigfoot encounters, including a case from Gray’s Harbor County where two brothers captured an unexplained humanoid heat signature on a steep hillside. The figure’s size and shape ruled out known animals, and nearby footprints suggested something massive had been present. Size comparison tests estimated the figure to be around seven feet tall and far wider than a human, making the encounter especially disturbing.
In Canada, siblings hiking near Tofino captured brief footage of a dark figure standing upright in the distance. Although the video itself is unclear, they insist the movement did not resemble a bear. The figure disappeared almost immediately, leaving behind only questions and a lingering sense of dread.
Children playing near a treehouse in snowy woods unknowingly recorded one of the most debated Bigfoot videos. A large dark figure appeared briefly between trees, moving upright before vanishing. Later analysis estimated the figure to be around eight feet tall. While skeptics believe the scene was staged, the deep footprints found nearby continue to fuel speculation.
Sometimes, the most unsettling Bigfoot footage is discovered only after the fact. A carpenter wearing a backward-facing GoPro later noticed a large figure watching him from the trees as he walked away. The figure remained motionless, partially hidden, and never approached, making the encounter feel more like surveillance than coincidence.
Trail cameras have captured numerous strange images, including one from Florida’s Ocala National Forest showing a large, upright, furry figure behind a fallen tree. The figure’s bulky build and ape-like appearance sparked intense debate, especially given that no wild apes live in the region.
In another case, a father and son driving through a remote area noticed a figure crossing a distant ridge road. By the time the camera started recording, the figure had vanished into the forest. They shared the footage online without claiming it was Bigfoot, simply asking for explanations, which only deepened the mystery.
Audio-only encounters can be just as terrifying. One mountain hiker recorded loud, unfamiliar noises echoing through the forest alongside his dog’s frantic barking. Neither source appeared on camera, leaving listeners to imagine what might have been nearby.
Trail camera footage has also captured silhouettes of two dark upright figures moving through trees, though no follow-up evidence exists. The lack of clarity makes the footage inconclusive, but still disturbing.
In British Columbia, a man testing a new infrared camera accidentally captured a strange humanoid figure moving on all fours in his yard. The low image quality left the figure unidentified, but the idea that something could be so close to home unsettled many viewers.
Some encounters happen frighteningly close to families. A man working on his property noticed movement behind a cactus while his children played nearby. The figure remained hidden briefly before disappearing. No evidence was found, but the family left the area shaken.
Drone footage has also revealed strange sightings, including a tall fur-covered figure walking upright near a lake in northern Maine. When the man returned to film the same spot, the figure was gone, raising questions about who or what had been there.
Other trail camera footage shows heavy-set figures sitting low to the ground with broad shoulders and unnatural posture. These shapes don’t clearly match humans or known animals, leaving viewers guessing.
Not every Bigfoot sighting turns out to be real. One black-and-white image posted online was eventually identified as nothing more than a tree stump. But for a brief moment, even skeptics wondered if they were seeing something alive.
Willow Creek, California, a famous Bigfoot hotspot, continues to produce strange photos. One image showed a dark human-shaped figure near trees, with no clear explanation, keeping the legend alive.
Some photos shared by explorers and photographers claim to show ape-like figures hiding behind objects. Critics question image quality and authenticity, but believers argue that fear often prevents clear documentation.
In Florida’s Lettuce Lake Park, footage captured a figure moving through swamp water and even submerging itself, behavior no bear would display. Many believe this footage shows the Skunk Ape, a swamp-dwelling relative of Bigfoot.
One of the strangest modern clips involved glowing eye-like lights appearing briefly above a doorway during a lightning storm. The lights vanished instantly, leaving the family confused and frightened.
Perhaps the most controversial footage shows a large, calm, hair-covered figure sitting on a fallen tree in Alabama. The figure’s visible features closely match Sasquatch descriptions, but debate continues over whether the footage is genuine.
Finally, a set of photographs by Arcadi Tishkov shows a small humanoid-shaped figure that some associate with horned Yeti legends. Without physical evidence, the images remain unverified, but deeply intriguing.
The Forest Is Watching: The Most Terrifying Bigfoot Encounters Ever Recorded While Hiking
Whether these encounters represent misidentified animals, hoaxes, or something truly unknown, one fact remains clear. The forest continues to produce moments that defy easy explanation. Bigfoot encounters caught while hiking are especially disturbing because they happen to people who were simply walking through nature, unaware they might not be alone. Until every shadow is explained and every sound identified, the legend of Sasquatch will continue to walk beside us on lonely trails, just out of sight.
