12 Bigfoot Hotspots in California

Bigfoot Sightings

 Bigfoot sightings in California have taken place since the 1800s, but it wasn't until the 1950s that sightings became more popular. This captivating cryptid has been spotted in every state except Hawaii, with California being the second most popular state for sightings and Washington being the first.

 Also known as Sasquatch, the creature has been seen in many parts of the state, although certain areas are known as being hotspots for this elusive beast. Below are 12 of the state's hotspots in no particular order.

Yosemite

Beginning with Native American folklore of large, hairy beasts in the Yosemite area, reports in more modern days go back to 1958 when a researcher spotted a Bigfoot creature by a road in Yosemite National Park.

Over the years, reports of the creature have continued in various parts of the park, as well as claims of footprints.

Mount Shasta

For centuries, the Modoc tribe has inhabited the Mount Shasta area and has given the name "matah kagmi" (meaning keepers of the woods) to a large hairy beast said to reside in the area.

Bigfoot has been reported in various areas of the mountain, including campgrounds and trails, as well as in the caverns. In fact, there are those who believe they make their home inside the mountain. Numerous footprints have been found in the area to support the sightings.

Santa Cruz

Sightings of Bigfoot have been reported for decades in the Santa Cruz area. There's been physical evidence as well. The area has been such a hotspot that Bigfoot experiencer Mike Rugg ran the Bigfoot Discovery Museum there for twenty years, which showcased a variety of Bigfoot memorabilia including a map of local sightings, footprints, and even a tooth! Unfortunately, Rugg retired, and the museum is closed.

Redwood National Park

With its towering trees, it's no wonder that Redwood National Park is a popular location for Bigfoot sightings (both day and night), but not just sightings alone. Numerous footprints have been found, and several vocal sounds assumed to be the creature have been heard.

Redwood National Park is part of both Del Norte and Humboldt counties, with Humboldt considered to have the most Bigfoot sightings of any county in the state of California.

San Bernardino Mountains

With an early sighting in 1950 of Bigfoot in Lytle Creek, sightings have continued over the years in the San Bernardino Mountains, including an incident where the creature was seen by multiple people at the Barton Flats Campground.

Howls by the big guy have also been heard, including a Mother and daughter who heard them outside their home near Big Bear City. Both Lake Arrowhead and Silverwood Lake are particularly active with Bigfoot observations.

Bigfoot Scenic Byway

The Bigfoot Scenic Byway is a stretch of California State Route 96 that runs from Willow Creek (more on this location later) to Happy Camp. The area is known to have a high concentration of sightings, particularly Weitchpec, which has yielded numerous sightings and footprints over the years.

Covering 89 miles, this length of road has had enough reports of Bigfoot to be featured on TV shows including Finding Bigfoot on Animal Planet. 

El Dorado National Forest

With a significant amount of Bigfoot activity, the El Dorado National Forest has had a fair share of sightings, not to mention reports of Bigfoot vocalizations as well as the sound of the creature shaking trees.

One of the standout areas in the forest is Stumpy Meadows, which is located about 17 miles east of Georgetown. The area is popular for camping and hiking trails and has had numerous sightings near the reservoir.

Stanislaus National Forest

Known to be the second most popular area in the state for Bigfoot sightings, the Stanislaus National Forest has sightings that date back to when Native Americans resided there.

Pinecrest has had a particular amount of Bigfoot activity involving both sightings and footprints.

Lake Tahoe

Another prime location for Bigfoot is the Lake Tahoe area in the woods above the pristine waters of the lake. Not only have there been an abundance of sightings, but there have also been several recordings of the creature dating back to the 1970s when the noted "Sierra Sounds" were recorded, as well as huge footprints and shadowy figures.

Tehachapi Mountains

Although more Bigfoot sightings take place in Northern California than Southern California, the Tehachapi Mountains are a prominent area in Southern California for Bigfoot sightings.

It's also a location that has yielded many footprints of the creature in areas including prints found in Sand Canyon and Bear Valley Springs. Some speculate the mountains are used more for migration than for a permanent home to these creatures.

Trinity Alps

A location for frequent sightings, Trinity Alps has had numerous reported Bigfoot sightings, with many occurrences reported to The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, with one of the earliest sound reports dating back to 1964.

Trinity Alps is home to The Bigfoot Trail, a 360-mile hiking trail that goes through several areas where Bigfoot has been sighted. It is not uncommon to hear some kind of screams in Trinity Alps at night, which many attribute to the cryptid.

Willow Creek

Affectionately known as the "Bigfoot Capital of the World," Willow Creek has a long history of sightings and is a popular place for Bigfoot enthusiasts. The town has a Bigfoot museum (Willow Creek-China Flat Museum) along with a Bigfoot Steakhouse and Bigfoot Hotel.

The town's big claim to Bigfoot fame is the 1967 video shot by Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin, which shows the cryptid walking through the trees in the forest. The above video is of the original footage shot of the creature. The first part of the video is shaky, then becomes clear.

So what do you think? Do you believe in Bigfoot?

Sources:

https://hangar1publishing.com/blogs/cryptids/california-bigfoot-sightings

https://www.pacificadventureclub.com/blog/the-enigma-of-bigfoot-in-yosemite-national-park

https://www.bfro.net/

https://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_county_reports.asp?state=CA&county=San%20Bernardino

https://www.discovery.com/exploration/mt--shasta-s-mysterious-lava-tubes