Where to Find Bigfoot and Other Cryptids
Where to Spot Cryptids: Top Locations by State
Across the United States, cryptid legends hide in forests, mountains, swamps, and small-town folklore. From the shadowy figure of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest to the blood-chilling reports of the Chupacabra in the Southwest, every state has a tale to tell. Whether you're a seasoned cryptozoologist or a curious traveler looking to explore the unknown, this guide offers the best cryptid hotspots across all 50 states.
So, grab your moisture-wicking apparel, prep your Bigfoot hunting gear, and explore the best places for real Bigfoot sightings and other mysterious creatures across the U.S.
Pacific Northwest
Washington – Pacific Northwest Sasquatch
Most active region for real Bigfoot sightings.
Best Location: Olympic National Park and Mount St. Helens.
Highlights: Reports of Bigfoot footprints, howls, and tree knocks.
Oregon – The Oregon Bigfoot Highway
Highway 126 has one of the highest concentrations of Bigfoot reports.
Stop by the Cryptid Museum in Boring, OR.
Gear up in high-quality cryptid shirts for a trail-ready look.
West Coast
California – California Wild Man
Best Spot: Bluff Creek (site of the famous Patterson-Gimlin film).
Northern CA forests teem with Sasquatch folklore.
Local lore blends with Native American Wild Man stories.
Nevada – Tahoe Tessie & Area 51 Cryptids
Lake Tahoe harbors its own Loch Ness-style creature.
Southern Nevada has ties to government experimentation and unexplained phenomena.
Southwest
Arizona – Mogollon Monster
Sighted in the Mogollon Rim; often mistaken for Bigfoot.
Hot, dry terrain—bring SPF 50 outdoor shirts.
New Mexico – Skinwalkers & Thunderbirds
Navajo Nation has deep-rooted folklore on shape-shifters.
Best Spot: Four Corners region.
Texas – Texas Bigfoot
Best Location: Sam Houston National Forest.
Known for deep growls and cryptid encounters in the wild.
Local festivals celebrate the legend with Sasquatch gifts and merch.
Midwest
Ohio – Ohio Grassman
Salt Fork State Park is the hotspot for sightings.
Popular region for Sasquatch research and evidence gathering.
Michigan – Dogman
Unlike Bigfoot, the Dogman resembles a werewolf.
Best Spot: Wexford County.
Wisconsin – Beast of Bray Road
A hulking bipedal wolf reported near Elkhorn.
Often tied to urban legends and paranormal theories.
Southeast
Florida – Florida Skunk Ape
Found in the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve.
Described as a foul-smelling Sasquatch variant.
UV-resistant Bigfoot stickers are popular among local believers.
North Carolina – Appalachian Bigfoot
The Smoky Mountains hide more than black bears.
Frequent sightings around Uwharrie National Forest.
Georgia – Altamaha-ha
River monster sightings along the Altamaha River.
Merges aquatic cryptid culture with Bigfoot-style lore.
Appalachia
Tennessee – Tennessee Wild Man
Tales from the 1800s of a hairy, violent humanoid.
Smoky Mountains remain active for cryptid reports.
West Virginia – Mothman
Point Pleasant is home to Mothman legend and festival.
Sightings connected to disaster and paranormal phenomena.
Kentucky – Hillbilly Beast
Aggressive Bigfoot variant near Daniel Boone National Forest.
Featured in regional folk tales and cryptozoology for beginners guides.
Northeast
New York – Whitehall Bigfoot
Whitehall is the epicenter of Sasquatch sightings in the East.
Best Spot: Adirondack Mountains.
Vermont – The Pigman of Northfield
Described as a disfigured human with pig-like features.
Often cited in urban legends around Halloween.
Maine – Specter Moose
A ghostly moose-like creature spotted in the wilderness.
Merges folklore with ecological curiosity.
Great Plains
Nebraska – Alkali Lake Monster
Sighted in remote lake regions.
Possibly a prehistoric holdover or misunderstood reptile.
Oklahoma – Boggy Creek Monster
Also known as the Fouke Monster.
Inspired films and regional interest in cryptid merchandise.
Rocky Mountains
Colorado – Ute Legends & Ridge-Walking Sasquatch
Numerous Native American stories of mountain spirits.
Best Spots: San Juan Mountains and Pike National Forest.
Utah – Bear Lake Monster
Part of Mormon and Shoshone lore.
Similar to Nessie but rooted in American storytelling.
Alaska & Hawaii
Alaska – Hairy Man of Port Chatham
One of the most frightening cryptids in U.S. lore.
The village was reportedly abandoned due to attacks.
Hawaii – Menehune
Small cryptid beings said to build ancient structures overnight.
Tied to native Hawaiian mythology.
Bonus: Honorable Mentions by State
Mississippi – Pascagoula River Aliens and local Bigfoot reports
Louisiana – Rougarou, a Cajun werewolf with regional twists
Arkansas – Fouke Monster and real Bigfoot sightings continue
Missouri – Momo the Monster, a bipedal creature along the Mississippi
Illinois – Enfield Horror and southern Bigfoot activity
Indiana – Green Clawed Beast of the Ohio River
North Dakota – Miniwashitu, a red-furred water cryptid
South Dakota – Taku-He, a tall hairy man-beast similar to Sasquatch
Iowa – Van Meter Visitor, a flying humanoid with glowing horn
Minnesota – Wendigo lore and shadowy forest creatures
Kansas – Sinkhole Sam, a worm-like cryptid
Montana – Shunka Warakin, wolf-hyena beast
Wyoming – Jackalope: part folklore, part Americana
Plan Your Cryptid Road Trip
Use this guide to create your own cryptid tourism trail. Collect Bigfoot stickers, wear custom Bigfoot merchandise, and dive deep into the mysteries each state holds. Whether you're chasing Bigfoot footprints and evidence in national parks or exploring legends like the California Wild Man, you’ll never run out of strange and fascinating stories to follow.
What The Sas
