Tacoma’s trails are known for their trees, ravines and waterfront views. But some come with stories that can make a walk feel a little different—especially when the daylight starts to fade.
The News Tribune’s Gavin Feek explored five of the area’s most-haunted hikes with Chris Staudinger, a local author, ghost tour guide and captain of Pretty Gritty Tours. At Point Defiance, one enduring tale centers on reports of a girl with a bicycle appearing along the 5 Mile Trail. The legend is connected to the 1986 disappearance and killing of 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian, whose killer was caught decades later.
Other stories draw on neighborhood lore and Tacoma’s past. Swan Creek has its own boogeyman legend, while the Water Flume Line Trail runs beside Potter’s Field, where more than 1,600 people were buried in unmarked graves. The result is a mix of ghostly accounts, urban legends and history that is unsettling for reasons beyond the supernatural.
Feek and Staudinger’s full guide visits five Tacoma trails and explains the stories attached to each—from the familiar local legends to the histories many walkers may not know. Read the full News Tribune feature for all five hikes and the stories behind them. Read it here View it here.
Discover more of Tacoma in today’s Tacoma Local Minute. Catch the rest of today’s local news, events, and updates in the full issue here.
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