Backwoods Bigfoot Stories

Tonight I share  five extraordinary encounters with unexplained forest beings across five decades and thousands of miles of American wilderness, told by witnesses who never met yet describe remarkably similar experiences.

Olympic Peninsula, Washington - 1968 & 1973 A fire lookout witnesses a massive bipedal creature investigating a log in the remote Olympics. The witness describes intelligence in the being's eyes and the sensation of being observed. Years later, while hunting, he encounters multiple creatures communicating through wood knocks and territory marking with strategically broken trees.

Adirondack Mountains, New York - 1976 & 1988 A biology graduate student conducting acid rain research e...

Tonight week on Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, I share five compelling firsthand accounts from professionals who encountered something unexplained in America's remote wilderness areas.From a National Park ranger in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains to a hunter in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a search and rescue coordinator in Oregon's Cascades to a wildlife photographer in California's redwoods, and finally an environmental scientist in New Hampshire's White Mountains - each witness describes encounters with intelligent, bipedal beings that demonstrated complex communication patterns, territorial awareness, and deliberate avoidance of documentation.

Most striking are the consistent elements across these independent accounts: rhythmic wood...

Vanished in the Sierra - The Mysterious Disappearances of Sandra Johnsen Hughes and Joel ThomazinIn this haunting eighth installment of National Park Nightmares, we delve into two perplexing disappearances that occurred just fourteen months apart in the rugged wilderness of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Join your host as we explore the baffling circumstances surrounding Sandra Johnsen Hughes and Joel Thomazin, two experienced outdoor enthusiasts who entered the wilderness and seemingly vanished without a trace.

Our journey begins in the summer of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when 54-year-old Sandra Johnsen Hughes sought solace in the pristine...

Step into the ancient forests of the Olympic Mountains as we present a riveting first-person account that will challenge everything you thought you knew about the natural world. In this episode, we follow Mike Calloway, an experienced hunter whose annual elk hunting trip with his father transforms into something extraordinary—an encounter with an intelligence not recognized by science.Mike's journey begins with the familiar ritual of preparation—checking gear, studying maps, and making the long drive into increasingly remote territory.

Having hunted these woods for fifteen years alongside his father Jack, a former Forest Service ranger, Mike know...

In this week's bone-chilling episode, we explore a multi-generational encounter with the unknown deep in the backwoods of Limestone County, Alabama. Our story follows young James Earl Wilkins, who at age 12 in the summer of 1976, experienced a series of terrifying encounters with what locals referred to as "the forest folk" or "wild men" on his family's 80-acre farm.

The saga unfolds through James' now 62-year-old perspective as he recounts how his peaceful rural childhood was forever changed when strange howls began echoing from the nearby Cypress Bottom—a foreboding stretch of swampland that locals had long avoided. What be...

On April 12, 1966, a family picnic in America's first national park turned into one of the most baffling missing persons cases in American history. Eight-year-old Dennis Johnson was visiting Yellowstone with his parents William and Betty and his three sisters when his seven-year-old sister Mary wandered off.Dennis and his father split up to search for her. William found Mary quickly, but when he returned to the Cascade Picnic Area, Dennis had vanished without a trace.

What followed was one of the most intensive search operations in Yellowstone's history – spanning 100 square miles, employing helicopters, bloodhounds, and dozens of searchers. De...

Tonight, Brian shares the never-before-told story of Thomas, a fur trapper whose life was forever changed after a terrifying encounter with sasquatch in the remote Canadian wilderness during February 1987.This first-hand account challenges everything we think we know about these mysterious creatures. What Mercer experienced reveals them to be intelligent, communicative, and potentially dangerous beings with complex social structures and territorial behaviors. His haunting experience raises profound questions about what these creatures truly are and our responsibility toward them.

The story begins as Thomas, a third-generation fur trapper, flies his bush plane to his remote family cabin in...

In this episode, Brian shares encounters with mysterious creatures and unexplained phenomena from remote wilderness areas. From Whisper Creek in Montana's Glacier National Park, Iron Ridge ghost town, and Dead Man's Hollow in Kentucky to Black Hollow and Widow's Crag, each story recounts experiences with eerie sounds, inexplicable footprints, and terrifying sightings of Bigfoot-like creatures.

 These tales serve as haunting reminders that some places are meant to be left alone and that not everyone who ventures into the unknown makes it back the same. Also, hear about unexpected sightings on Idaho's notorious Broken Antler Pass and forthcoming adventures i...

In today's special storytelling episode, I'm thrilled to share an original tale I've created called "The Unlikely Guardians:  Bigfoot Saves Easter. This heartwarming adventure follows Bartholomew, the last Sasquatch of the Pacific Northwest, whose carefully isolated life is upended when he discovers a set of unusual footprints in the late winter snow. Following them leads to an encounter with none other than Edmund Cottontail, the Easter Bunny himself, who is in desperate need of help. The magical Egg of Renewal has been stolen by Jack Frost, threatening to trap the world in endless winter and prevent Easter from happening at a...

In this haunting episode, we delve into one of Yellowstone National Park's most perplexing cold cases — the 1991 disappearance of Dan Campbell and his loyal dog Freckles.Our journey begins with Dan Campbell, a 42-year-old Montana man whose life had reached a crossroads by the spring of 1991. Living in Big Timber and struggling with mounting financial troubles, Campbell was looking for a way out. Standing 5'8" and weighing about 165 pounds, with the weathered face of someone comfortable in the outdoors, he had recently begun making plans to relocate to White Sulphur Springs, but needed money to finance the move.

Ac...

In this chilling episode, we dive deep into the mysterious Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, where moonshine and monsters collide in a story that spans generations. Join us as we unravel the tale of Jim, a master moonshiner whose knowledge of the mountains led to prosperity—and ultimately, his mysterious disappearance in 1972.This haunting narrative, told from the perspective of his grandson, explores how Jim used the feared presence of Sasquatch creatures to keep revenue agents and competitors away from his illegal stills in an area locals called "Booger Holler." But as we'll discover, nature always collects its debts, and so...

In this bone-chilling episode of "Into the Unknown," Brian narrates the extraordinary firsthand account of a man who survived multiple encounters with Sasquatch in the remote Alaskan wilderness. Brian brings to life the story of a former architect who abandoned city life in Anchorage to build his dream home on a hundred-acre property in the Kenai Peninsula, only to discover he had unwittingly entered territory claimed by creatures most believe exist only in legend. Through meticulous research and exclusive interviews with the survivor, Brian reconstructs this harrowing tale of territorial conflict and survival. Listeners will hear how the man's experience...

Deep in the shadows of Mount St. Helens, five gold prospectors experienced a night of terror that would forever mark their lives and give birth to one of America's most enduring wilderness mysteries.In this episode, we transport you to July 1924, when Fred Beck, the steady leader of a small mining operation, fired three shots at a strange, towering figure glimpsed across a canyon. Little did he know that as darkness fell, his cabin would become a fortress under siege.Join us as we follow Fred, Gabe Lefever, John Peterson, Marion Smith, and his son Roy through their harrowing ordeal—ro...

This week, we journey into the heart of two of America's most magnificent national parks to unravel mysteries that have confounded investigators for decades. Two young men, four years apart, both vanished without a trace while hiking alone on well-established trails. Their disappearances share disturbing similarities that suggest these weren't simply cases of lost hikers, but perhaps something far more inexplicable.

The Story of Timothy Barnes takes us to the crystalline waters of Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park. On July 5, 1988, 25-year-old Timothy "Tim" Barnes set out on what should have been a routine day hike. Standing 6'3"...

Today, Brian brings you the chilling first-person account of Jack, a former farm owner whose family experienced a series of terrifying encounters with what can only be described as a Dogman.
Jack describes how the encounters began with mysterious livestock disappearances and strange predator tracks that were "too big for a wolf, shaped wrong for a bear"The family's increasing terror as the creature progresses from killing animals to stalking their home, including a hair-raising incident where it was seen looking through their 10-year-old son's second-story windowVivid descriptions of the entity: standing 7-8 feet tall with canine features, possessing...

In this episode Brian shares a remarkable story from a man named Dale who had an extraordinary encounter in the North Georgia mountains back in 1983. As teenagers, Dale and his friend Brad embarked on what they thought would be a routine fishing and camping trip down the Chattooga River, only to experience something that would change their lives forever.

Episode Highlights:
Dale recounts how he and Brad, just 14 years old, set out on a seven-day journey down the Chattooga River in a flat-bottom aluminum boatThe boys' initial encounters with strange sounds and wood knocking that couldn't be...

Welcome back to National Park Nightmares, the podcast that explores real-life disappearances, survival stories, and unexplained events from deep within America's most iconic wilderness areas. In Volume 4, we dive into some of the most chilling—and unforgettable—cases yet. We begin with a rare story of survival. Christy Perry, a seasoned hiker, vanished in Big Bend National Park in Texas in November 2023. For eight days, she endured freezing temperatures, rain, and isolation with no food and only rainwater to drink. Most feared the worst.

Then, against all odds, she was found alive. Her story is a reminder that some...

Five people. Five remote regions. Five encounters that leave more questions than answers. In this chilling episode, we dive deep into the raw, first-person accounts of individuals who came face-to-face with something impossible—and survived to tell the story.From a veteran park ranger in Olympic National Park who locked eyes with a towering, silent figure by a remote creek, to a hiker in northern Minnesota who stumbled across an eerie structure and felt something watching from just beyond the trees… these aren't blurry photos or secondhand stories. These are firsthand moments where fear met something real in the woods.We’l...

In this gripping episode, we explore four true stories of seasoned hunters whose lives were changed forever deep in the wilderness. These are men who spent their entire lives in the woods, men who knew every sound, every shadow, and every sign the forest had to offer. They were confident, experienced, and prepared for anything—until the day they weren’t.From the dark pine forests of northern Minnesota to the remote wilderness of central Oregon… from the dense hollows of northern Alabama to the endless thickets of East Texas… each of these men came face-to-face with something they couldn’t explain...

In this chilling episode of National Park Nightmares, we explore two of the most unsettling disappearances in America’s wild places—stories where the line between accident and something darker blurs beyond recognition.First, we return to 1958 and the shadowy slopes of Mount Meeker in Colorado. Ten-year-old Bobby Bizup vanished from Camp St. Malo, a Catholic boys' camp near Rocky Mountain National Park. Deaf, trusting, and familiar with the camp, Bobby was last seen leaving a fishing spot alone. Despite an exhaustive search, his remains weren’t found until a year later—by a counselor who was also one of the last...

In tonight’s episode, we’re heading into the dark corners of the British countryside, where more than a few people have come face to face with something they can’t explain. These aren’t tall tales from deep in the American wilderness. These are stories from people in Scotland, Derbyshire, Oldham… places where folklore runs deep and the forests seem to hold their breath after dark.We start with an eerie pair of encounters near Cairnpapple Hill in the Bathgate Hills of Scotland. A young driver and his friends stumble upon a dark figure racing towards their car. Years later, he...

In the deep, mist-covered swamps of Louisiana and the shadowed bottomlands of Arkansas, something has been seen. Something big. Something wild. And for decades, the stories have haunted locals and fueled whispered warnings: Don’t go out there after dark.In this episode, we travel first to the murky waters of Honey Island Swamp. Since the early 1960s, there have been sightings of a hulking, hair-covered creature said to stand over seven feet tall. It’s known for its piercing yellow eyes, webbed footprints, and the foul stench it leaves behind. Some say it’s an undiscovered primate. Others say it’s s...

The wilderness holds secrets… and some of them are darker than we ever imagined. In Episode Two of National Park Nightmares, we take you deeper into the shadows of America’s most breathtaking landscapes—places meant for adventure, peace, and connection with nature. But for some, these parks became the setting of an unexplainable disappearance… and a nightmare that never ended.This week, we explore more of the most baffling missing persons cases to ever come out of our National Parks. Stories where experienced hikers vanish from well-marked trails, children disappear in the blink of an eye, and search parties find clu...

This episode takes you deep into the wilds and waters of North Carolina, where folklore and fear go hand in hand.We kick things off in the murky lowlands of Scape Ore Swamp, home to one of the strangest cryptid encounters on record. Known as the Lizard Man, this creature first terrorized the small town of Bishopville in the late 1980s. With glowing red eyes, scaly skin, and a towering frame, witnesses described something straight out of a nightmare. But some say this wasn’t a one-time visitor. Could the Scape Ore Swamp Monster be part of something bigger—another link...

Welcome to first episode in a series of National Park Nightmares, a deep dive into some of the most mysterious disappearances that have taken place in America’s vast and often unforgiving national parks. In this first episode of the series, we explore four baffling cases of individuals who vanished under strange and unexplained circumstances: Dennis Martin, Thelma Pauline Melton, Bessie and Glen Hyde, and Trenny Gibson. Each of these cases presents unique and unsettling elements that leave us questioning what forces might be at play in the depths of the wilderness.
These are not merely stories of people ge...

The woods and backroads at night hold more than just the familiar legends of Sasquatch or the terrifying Dogman. Some encounters defy classification—leaving behind nothing but questions and an eerie sense that reality is far stranger than we think. In this episode, we dive into some chilling experiences:
A police officer witnesses an otherworldly figure lurking in the shadows—something small, gray, and watching him with enormous black eyes. The encounter leaves him frozen in place until the creature raises its arm, revealing a strange metallic bracelet. A moment later, everything goes dark, and he wakes up on the...

For centuries, people have whispered about creatures that lurk just beyond the edges of our understanding—beings that live in the shadows, in the forests, beneath the waves. Some dismiss them as folklore, others claim to have seen them with their own eyes. And then, there are those who say they’ve lived among them.Tonight, we explore three incredible stories—each more unbelievable than the last.First, we journey to Tennessee, where the Carter family claimed to have lived alongside a clan of Sasquatch for decades. At the heart of this astonishing story is Fox, a massive, intelligent male Bigfoo...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of the unexplained, where reality and myth blur into one. From terrifying roadside encounters to years of unexplained abductions, tonight’s stories will leave you questioning just how much of the unknown is lurking right outside our doorsteps.Story 1: The Werewolf on the HighwayOur journey into the strange begins with a late-night drive home, where a logistics worker encounters something he can’t explain. At first, he thinks it's a moose or a bear lying in the road, but as he slows down, he realizes it’s something else entirely. Its sickly...

War leaves scars—some you can see, some you can’t. And some remain hidden in the deep, dark jungles where the rules of reality seem to shift.In tonight’s episode, we dive into an extraordinary email from a Vietnam veteran named Roger M., a loyal listener who has carried a secret for decades. He was there. He fought in the war. And he encountered something the military told him to forget—something that wasn’t human. Roger’s story isn’t just another Bigfoot sighting. His unit faced a terrifying presence in the jungle: the Rock Apes of Vietnam. Descr...

Tonight’s episode takes us deep into the unknown, exploring eerie encounters that span continents and generations. We begin with the ancient legends of cryptids—Bigfoot, the Yeti, the Yowie, and the Yeren—beings that have lurked in folklore for centuries. These creatures, often described as massive, hairy, and elusive, have fascinated and frightened those who have claimed to see them. But as time has passed, our stories have evolved, and with them, the beings themselves.What if these legendary creatures were only the beginning? Our journey shifts to modern accounts of humanoid entities that stretch beyond the realm of crypti...

Reality is not always as it seems. Sometimes, the veil between the known and the unknown grows thin, allowing terrifying and unexplainable encounters to seep into our world. In this episode we explore firsthand accounts of mysterious creatures, eerie extraterrestrial visitations, and encounters with entities that defy human understanding.From a shadowy humanoid sprinting at unnatural speeds in Cincinnati to a grotesque creature screeching in the night in Indiana, these stories will leave you questioning what lurks just beyond the edge of perception. Witnesses report small red beings watching from the trees, paranormal abductions with missing time, and UFOs descending...

In this chilling episode, we dive deep into two of the most harrowing Bigfoot encounter cases ever documented—the infamous Siege at Honobia and the mysterious Kentucky Bigfoot Encounters. These terrifying accounts of aggressive and persistent Sasquatch activity will leave you questioning just how close we are to the unknown.We start with the Siege at Honobia, where a rural Oklahoma family found themselves under relentless attack by an unknown entity lurking in the darkness. Over two years, the disturbances escalated from strange noises and stolen food to violent attempts to enter their home. After a fateful night when the fa...

In this chilling episode, we dive into real-life encounters with the unknown—stories of mysterious creatures lurking in the wilderness, strange sounds in the dead of night, and eerie sightings that defy explanation. From the dense forests of New Hampshire to the remote trails of Sugarloaf Ridge, our guests recount firsthand experiences that will leave you questioning what really exists in the shadows.

Featured Stories:🔹 A Midnight Encounter at Sugarloaf Ridge – A couple sets up camp in the woods, expecting a peaceful escape from city life. But when heavy footsteps echo outside their tent in the middle of the nig...

Scotland—a land of misty mountains, ancient forests, and deep folklore. While the country is known for its tales of kelpies, faeries, and the Loch Ness Monster, there’s another legend that lurks in the shadows of the Highlands. Could Scotland be home to its own version of Bigfoot? In this episode, we explore first-hand encounters of a mysterious, towering, hairy figure spotted in the Scottish wilderness. From the forests of Fife to the remote valleys of Cairnpapple, we hear the chilling testimonies of those who claim to have come face-to-face with some...

In this episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, we take you deep into the heart of the American wilderness, where five different witnesses share their firsthand encounters with something big, unknown, and impossible to forget. From the dense forests of Northern California to the rugged mountain trails of Nevada, these stories defy logic, challenge beliefs, and leave an unforgettable imprint on those who experienced them.Was it a man? A beast? Or something in between?Join us as we unravel these eerie encounters, exploring the raw emotion, shock, and awe felt by those who came face-to-face with what they can only...

Welcome to another thrilling episode where we dive into the strange, the unexplained, and the downright terrifying. Tonight, we journey to the untamed wilderness of Alaska—a land of vast tundras, towering mountains, and icy waters—where legendary creatures lurk in the shadows. Our stories come straight from those who have seen the impossible and lived to tell the tale. Strap in as we explore three chilling encounters with Alaska’s mystery beasts—from an eerie roadside meeting with a Dogman, to the looming presence of the Urayuli, and the deep, dark waters where a sea monster may still be...

In this bittersweet yet exciting episode, I bring you the final chapter of Born Wild: Koda’s Odyssey that I’ll be narrating here on the podcast. While I originally planned to share the entire book with you, chapter by chapter, we’ve made the decision to reformat Born Wild for publication and release it as a full audiobook later this year. This means you’ll soon be able to experience the entire journey uninterrupted, from beginning to end.But for now, we’ll pick up where we left off—a pivotal moment in the story. After the heartbreaking loss of Varo and...

In this episode, we journey into the vast, untamed wilderness of Alaska, where the line between myth and reality often blurs. This is a collection of stories about those who’ve come face-to-face with Sasquatch—or as they are more commonly known in Alaska, “The Hairy Man.” These accounts paint a vivid picture of eerie encounters, unexplained phenomena, and the enduring mystery surrounding these elusive creatures.

Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or simply curious, these encounters challenge us to reconsider what might be lurking in the wilderness. So, settle in and prepare to be transported to the remote...

In this episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, we journey deep into the wilderness to uncover tales of terrifying encounters with creatures that seem to exist just beyond the edge of reason. From the remote foothills of Montana to the dense forests of Washington State and the mysterious islands of Lac La Martre, these firsthand accounts are as chilling as they are thought-provoking. We begin with a horseback hunting trip in Montana that takes a terrifying turn when a group of young riders stumbles upon a towering, hairy figure in the brush. The encounter not only spooks their horses but also...

In  this extraordinary episode, we delve into a tale of mystery, compassion, and an unforgettable bond between a South Carolina farm family and a Sasquatch. Submitted by listener Joe, this story takes us deep into the rural hills, where a young boy’s life changes forever after discovering an injured Sasquatch near his family’s creek.What begins as a desperate effort to save the creature’s life evolves into a decades-long relationship of mutual respect and awe. Along the way, Joe’s family faces tense moments, remarkable encounters, and unforgettable lessons about coexisting with the unknown. From tree knocks to silent...