12 Of The Most Mysterious Forests In The World

1) Black Forest, Germany

The name itself sounds mysterious, and that’s because the Black Forest in Germany is well-known as the home of lots of myths and legends. From ghosts and nymphs to foreboding dark pathways into the woods, the Black Forest conjures an image of fairytales and horror. But fear not: this area in southwestern Germany is actually filled with quaint villages and miles of gorgeous hiking trails.

2) Hallerbos, Belgium

Every spring, the floor of this Belgian forest is covered in bluebells, giving it a blue-violet carpet that makes travelers feels as though they’re walking in a fairytale.

3) Rata Forest, New Zealand

The Rata is a type of tree on New Zealand, and this forest on Enderby Island is filled with gnarled tree trunks and branches. There are plenty of hiking trails in the forest and on the island itself.

4) Crooked Forest, Poland

The Crooked Forest is located outside Nowe Czarnowo in Poland — and to this day, no one knows why the trees are all curved in the same shape. It’s assumed that the 400 pine trees were planted in this grove around 1930, possibly to produce naturally curved timber for boats. But to this day, the forest remains a mystery.

5) Goblin Forest, New Zealand

The name speaks for itself: the creepy Goblin Forest is truly unique and won’t be anything like you’ve seen before. Find the forest by entering Tararua Forest Park, then make your way to the mid-slope to treeline forests on Mount Taranaki, about 600-900m up. The eerie, moss-covered trees in this forest include kamahi, miro, and mountain totara. Because this stretch of land is so misty and prone to rainfall, the trees are blanketed in green moss all the time, giving it the “goblin” glow.

6) Stanton Moor, UK

This beautiful forest is located in Stanton Moor in northern England, which is also home to a moor with mysterious Bronze Age stone circles and stones.

7) Moss Swamp, Romania

This image appears to be of a mossy forest area in Romania, though its location isn’t entirely known. Romania is full of gorgeous mountains and forests, so it’s worth a visit, though you might have to do some searching for this mysterious moss swamp.

8) The Sea of Trees, or Aokigahara, Japan

Aokigahara forest lies at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Japan, and is known as the sea of trees because it’s so vast and mysterious. It’s also very dense, so it naturally shuts out all external noises, and is extremely easy to get lost in so hikers often place their own tape on the trees to avoid getting lost.

9) Otzarreta Forest, Spain

Located in the Basque Country in Spain, Otzarreta Forest is a beautiful part of Gorbea Natural Park. The ancient trees, mixed with the foggy atmosphere, gives this forest a mystical air. These crazy trees definitely deserve a spot on the list of weirdest trees on earth.

10) Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania

The Hoia-Baciu Forest is considered one of the most haunted forests in the world, and is sometimes referred to as the “Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania.” People have claimed they’ve seen UFOs and/or ghosts near the woods, though no one is sure. Legend says there is a perfectly circular clearing in the middle of the forest that attracts paranormal activity.

11) Chinese Hemlock Trail, Taiwan

This hike is part of Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Taiwan. It may look creepy, but don’t worry: It’s quite a short hike, though it may be a bit strenuous due to the altitude and steepness of its path.

12) Tsingy Forest, Madagascar

Known as the Forest of Knives, the Tsingy Forest is an incredible area that is made up of sharp limestone rocks jutting from the earth, up to 70 meters in the air. Though it’s possibly one of the most dangerous national parks you can visit, it’s worth it in the end, as some of us at Tentree discovered ourselves.