Haunted Uncompahgre National Forest

Haunted Uncompahgre National Forest
Paul Dale Roberts, HPI’s Esoteric Detective
Halo Paranormal Investigations
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While there is no scientific evidence of hauntings in the Uncompahgre National Forest, the area is steeped in eerie legends and chilling historical events that contribute to its “haunted” reputation. Most paranormal claims are centered around its abandoned mining towns and the violent history of early frontier settlements. Let’s look at the creepy side of this National Forest.

The Ute Curse:
Local lore includes a legend about a Tabeguache (now Uncompahgre) Ute medicine man who allegedly cursed the mountains after realizing the reservation system was a “sham”. A few hikers and campers claim that they have felt sick when they approached the mountains. When leaving the mountain area, they felt normal again. Some visitors blame this on the curse.

Ghostly” Pastures:
The USDA Forest Service describes the Alpine Guard Station as a place where you can still “picture those ghostly figures of the past” from the 1920s sheep grazing industry and even hear the phantom sounds of countless sheep in the distance. Some visitors claim that they have seen ghostly sheep grazing on the grass, only to fade away.

Paranormal Encounters at the San Juan Mountains:
Some visitors and locals have reported strange experiences in the remote San Juan Mountains, including hearing voices in different languages, smelling unexplainable scents in the middle of nowhere, and seeing shadows without a physical source. At Animas Forks, which is located at 11,200 feet, this is one of the most famous ghost towns in Colorado. Visitors often describe a “haunting” atmosphere created by its skeletal wooden buildings, including the “Bay Window House” and a thick-walled jail. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions moving about. Lauren Carlson, tourist left her hairbrush on a counter. The next thing that happened is that the hairbrush lifted up and then flew across the room.

The Strater Hotel (Durango):
Though staff sometimes downplay the claims, it has been cited by some sources as one of Colorado’s most haunted hotels. It is known for its “ghost diaries” where guests record unexplained sightings and sounds. Two guests claim that they were held down in their bed by an invisible force holding their blanket.

The Historic Alma House Inn (Silverton):
Open since 1902, this hotel is rumored to host several ghostly apparitions from the town’s early mining days. Ghostly miners have been seen walking down the hallway and entering a room. Two women guests have claimed that they were pinched.

South San Juan Wilderness:
Locals have speculated about a “curse” in this remote area following clusters of unusual deaths, such as three hunters dying within eight days due to lightning strikes and sudden collapses. Some visitors have claimed to have encountered Ute spirits. Regional lore includes stories from Indigenous perspectives regarding the presence of Ute spirits throughout the range. Stories persist of a curse placed by a Ute medicine man following the removal of his people, with some claiming to see, hear, or feel spirits in the mountains. More ghostly miners have been seen at Alta Lakes Area. Alta Lakes Area is a former mining site near Telluride that is home to abandoned structures and spooky legends. Reports in the Lake City area include sightings of shadowy figures moving rapidly over snow, strange, unidentifiable voices, and a general sense of unease or “unwelcome presence”. The area near Lake City is also famous for the unsettling tale of Alfred Packer, who confessed to killing and eating his fellow travelers. Some ghost hunting groups have tried to summon Alfred Packer and claim they were successful in the use of Ouija Boards and capturing EVPs from their digital recorders. Those claims have not been verified.

Carson Ghost Town:
Located below Uncompahgre Peak, this tiny abandoned 1889 mining village is noted for its eerie atmosphere, though it is not yet officially considered a “paranormal hot spot”. Some visitors have claimed they have seen shadow figures moving about in some of the old buildings.

Fort Uncompahgre (Original Site):
The original trading post was the site of a violent 1844 attack where Ute warriors killed most of the inhabitants, leaving only one survivor to tell the tale. A replica museum now stands in Delta.

Alferd Packer Site:
The infamous 1874 cannibalism case involving Alferd Packer occurred as his group attempted a shortcut through the nearby San Juan mountains during a brutal winter.

Abandoned Infrastructure:
Historical remnants like the Trout Lake Trestle are often described as holding the “memory of a time long passed,” where some imagine hearing phantom train whistles.

Ghost Towns & Mining Camps:
Areas in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests are known for abandoned mining camps and towns where visitors sometimes report hearing voices.

Hamilton Ghost Town:
A specific site featuring a Hamilton Ghost Town (Moments in Dirt and Ink) with a cemetery on a hill, according to personal accounts.

Surrounding Region Haunts:
The broader Uncompahgre Gorge area and nearby, such as St. Elmo Ghost Town, are well-known to ghost tour enthusiasts in Colorado, according to the UCHealth Today article.

Fort Uncompahgre (Original Site):
The original trading post was the site of a violent 1844 attack where Ute warriors killed most of the inhabitants, leaving only one survivor to tell the tale. A replica museum now stands in Delta. People have heard screams and disembodied yelling at the original site.

Ghost Towns & Mining Camps:
Areas in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests are known for abandoned mining camps and towns where visitors sometimes report hearing voices. Disembodied voices are also heard at the Hamilton Ghost Town.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR ALFRED PACKER SITE:
1874 cannibalism case involving Alferd Packer occurred as his group attempted a shortcut through the nearby San Juan mountains during a brutal winter.