Bigfoot, also called Sasquatch, is one of North America’s most iconic fringe creatures.
Tall, hairy, and elusive, this legendary beast supposedly roams forests, mountains, and valleys from coast to coast. No one’s caught one (yet), but thousands of sightings keep piling up.
Certain places just feel different, more remote, more mysterious, and the stories never really fade away.
Whether you’re a diehard believer, a hopeful skeptic, or just in it for a good backwoods mystery, these 10 locations have built a reputation as the best places to spot Bigfoot in North America.
1. Bluff Creek, California
This is Bigfoot Ground Zero.
Deep in Northern California’s Six Rivers National Forest, Bluff Creek is where Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin shot the famous 1967 film showing a tall, hairy creature striding across a sandbar. That grainy footage? Still one of the most iconic cryptid videos ever captured, and nobody’s managed to debunk it for good.
The area feels wild and remote, packed with dense forests, winding creeks, and steep ridgelines. The local Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribes have old stories about similar beings.
Researchers, trackers, and the just-plain-curious still make the trek every year, hoping for a glimpse or maybe just a weird sound in the night. Some bring thermal cameras. Others just bring an open mind.
2. Mount St. Helens, Washington
Washington state racks up more Bigfoot sightings than anywhere else, and Mount St. Helens is a major hotspot.
Sitting in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, this active volcano is ringed by thick pine forests and wild country. After the 1980 eruption, odd stories started swirling, unmarked helicopters hauling away “unusual bodies,” and cleanup crews whispering about burned, oversized humanoid figures.
The area had Sasquatch legends long before that. The Ape Canyon incident of 1924 is still famous: a group of miners claimed ape-like creatures attacked their cabin near the mountain.
Even now, researchers and campers report vocalizations, rocks thrown from the woods, and mysterious footprints near the base of the mountain.
3. Whitehall, New York
When it comes to Bigfoot on the East Coast, Whitehall holds the crown.
Near the New York-Vermont border at the southern edge of the Adirondacks, this town has become a legit Bigfoot hotspot. The most famous encounter happened in 1976, when several police officers and locals saw a tall, hair-covered creature cross a road near Abair Road.
That sighting, and the credible witnesses, led the town to pass a resolution protecting Sasquatch. Not many towns can say that.
The area’s thick woods and waterways, plus a strong local fascination, keep the stories alive. You’ll even spot Bigfoot statues and quirky signs welcoming those who hunt the unknown.
4. Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina
Uwharrie might not be the first place you think of, but folks who’ve camped there know something’s up.
This low mountain range in central North Carolina isn’t huge, but it’s got more than its share of weird tales. People have reported howls, tree knocks, and close calls for decades.
There’s a history of moonshiners and off-the-grid living here, which probably kept stories quiet in the past. Lately, though, investigators have logged some serious reports, and North Carolina’s Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) has plenty of listings in the region.
5. Willamette National Forest, Oregon
Right in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Willamette National Forest sprawls across nearly 2 million acres of wild country, waterfalls, and backcountry trails.
It’s part of a vast corridor of forested land stretching from northern California into British Columbia, often called the “Bigfoot Belt.” Willamette stands out for modern reports: hikers have found 17-inch footprints, heard eerie vocalizations, and spotted tall, fast-moving figures in the trees.
Oregon doesn’t shy away from Bigfoot. There are festivals, roadside attractions, and even laws that mention Sasquatch.
6. Ruby Mountains, Nevada
Bigfoot isn’t just a forest dweller, some folks think he roams alpine deserts too. Enter the Ruby Mountains.
In northeastern Nevada, this isolated range has high peaks, clear lakes, and meadows surrounded by desert. It’s a perfect hiding spot, far from cities, with only a few access roads.
Hunters, ranchers, and campers have reported tall, upright creatures with long strides vanishing into the treeline. One story involves a strange “screaming” echoing through the canyon for hours.
7. Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania
This forest covers more than 500,000 acres in northwest Pennsylvania, a land of river valleys, hardwoods, and enough isolation to get lost for days.
Bigfoot sightings here go back generations. Locals have told stories of “wild men” and strange footprints since the 1800s. More recently, people report howls at night, odd tree structures deep in the woods, and face-to-face encounters on backroads.
It’s part of the larger Appalachian region, home to countless tales from Georgia to Maine. But Allegheny keeps popping up as a constant hotspot with a deep archive of witness stories.
8. Porcupine Provincial Forest, Manitoba
Canada has its own Bigfoot, often called the “Sasquatch” or, more traditionally, the “hairy man.”
In the Porcupine Provincial Forest of western Manitoba, there’s endless room to hide. The boreal forest stretches for miles, broken up only by lakes and logging trails. Moose, bear, and wolves live here, and locals think something else does too.
Hunters and trappers have swapped stories for generations about a large, upright creature with broad shoulders and long arms. Reports include vocalizations, cabins disturbed at night, and prints in the snow measuring 18 inches or more.
9. Adirondack Mountains, New York
Not far from Whitehall but way bigger, the Adirondacks cover more than 6 million acres. That’s bigger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Parks combined.
With that much space, it’s no wonder people report strange things. Hikers, campers, and hunters have seen tall figures moving between trees, heard wood knocks and howls, and found massive footprints in muddy trails.
Modern times haven’t changed much; cell service is spotty, and some trails barely see a soul all year. It’s the kind of place where something could hide, leaving just enough clues to keep you guessing.
Many Bigfoot believers put the Adirondacks in the top three East Coast hotspots, right up there with the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Appalachians.
10. Salt Fork State Park, Ohio
Salt Fork doesn’t just have Bigfoot sightings, it’s got a whole Bigfoot community.
In eastern Ohio, this 17,000-acre park is the Midwest’s most active Bigfoot site. Dozens of sightings have been logged, from night hikers to bowhunters who swear they saw something massive and upright watching from the ridge.
The park hosts the annual Ohio Bigfoot Conference, drawing researchers, witnesses, and fans from all over. You’ll see signs posted throughout warning visitors to “keep an eye out.” Locals mention strange vocalizations, tree knocks, and eyeshine in the woods.