A haunted hike in Michigan that blends fun and scary

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Hiking a “haunted trail” is a great way to get outdoors for exercise while catching the Halloween spirit. But for hikers with Parkinson’s or other mobility issues, finding the right trail can be tricky.

Each year, as sure as the leaves turn colors, hundreds of haunted trails pop up in both rural and urban areas. They offer varying scare levels, from family-friendly to scream-your-lungs-out. (Jump to the list.)

Four people dressed like zombies outdoors on a trail

However, for those with mobility challenges, walking a trail in the dark with roots and rocks to stumble on is dangerous.

Plus, not everyone is into “slaughter factories” and faceless ghouls accosting you while you walk.

Your best bet may be a haunted hike at a nature center or preserve. 

People walking through a parking lot to a building.

A nearly perfect one

I found a haunted trail in southwest Michigan that is more hike than scare, just the right blend of Halloween fun and an invigorating walk in the woods.

It’s at Sarett Nature Center near the town of Benton Harbor. 

Not knowing about the haunted hike, our family discovered the preserve during a weekend getaway and decided to hike around on a fall morning.

It’s a beautiful place, with boardwalks, overlooks, wetlands, grasslands, and a ridge loop.

Right away we saw signs that staff had begun setting up the annual haunted hike.

A man and woman check out a table of scary things next to a hiking path.

So our hike became a preview of the haunted hike later that day!

But the half-mile haunted hike route was only a small portion of the nature area. We explored the rest of it, using a map and going down to the Lowland and then ascending the switchbacks to the Upland.

There was decent signage, but we still got turned around at times. 

Feeling cold to the point of shivering can exacerbate Parkinson’s symptoms. In most areas of the country, October weather is unpredictable. Know the temperature, check your forecast app, and dress appropriately. Layers are your friends.


We spent a couple hours walking through the area, taking our time. We were not able to stay and go on the official haunted hike when it opened later. But we got a glimpse of what fun it would be when the displays and costumed staff were all in place and the afternoon sun began dropping.

If you choose to go on a night hike, trekking poles and a headlamp are necessities. Because darkness can be dizzying for hikers with Parkinson’s who struggle with balance, the poles will help keep you steady. The headlamp allows both hands to be free to hold the poles. 


For 2024, the date at Sarett is Oct. 26, with hikes starting at 3 p.m. Buy tickets early at $6 each.


Hike info: Sarett Nature Center

PD difficulty level (see chart): easy to moderate. Accessible trail available, a quarter-mile loop.
Distance: any — you choose your route
Elevation gain: 30 feet (steps or switchbacks)
Trailhead location: 2300 Benton Center Road, Benton Harbor, Michigan
Bathrooms: in visitors center
Emergency medical support: hospital within 10 miles in St. Joseph
Costs: $3/person
Road access to trailhead: near parking lot

Insider tip: Before your hike, ask the naturalist at the visitors center for recommendations on where to go and what to see.

A wooden log path with pumpkins near it.

Haunted trails – a sampling

Here are a few trails to get you started: Some of these annual events are on trails within nature preserves and can be completed in less than 90 minutes. They are family friendly with a low scare level.

Half-haunted Halloween
Wood Lake Nature Center,  Richfield, Minnesota

Halloween Hikes
Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, Georgia

Haunted Woods
Bruckner Nature Center, Troy, Ohio

To find one near you, type this in your search engine: “haunted trails nature centers families *state or city* ”

A zombie walk in an urban setting:

ZombieWalk, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

A rural corn maze:

Great Vermont Corn Maze, Danville, Vermont

True-to-life haunted trails:

There are also haunted hikes that aren’t manufactured for the season. You can find them year round, and they are linked to old stories that send shivers down your spine. You may see something inexplicable like a phantom cat, or hear a noise like a wailing child that you don’t know the source of. Here’s a website to get your search started. 

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2 Comments

  1. I wouldn’t have guessed that about cold, good to know!
    I also stay away from scares – but the hike sounds beautiful!

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