It’s not just the lady in white on the side of a rural road you’ve been warned not to give a ride. It’s the mule team in Mount Airy that perished tragically; and the sailor who died in a fiery blaze at a long-forgotten hotel in downtown Wilmington. And of course, pirates, always pirates in our coastal towns.

Many walks are family friendly but check before booking. Walks are typically under 2 miles and less than 2 hours. The state’s metro areas offer multiple tours year-round, but don’t overlook the spooky vibes found in smaller towns. Your local guide may even be a descendant of a ghost you hear about. The smaller tours are often only offered seasonally, so be certain to verify dates. Here are few of the many ghost walks found in North Carolina:

MOUNTAINS

Boone

This small college town has an abundance of legends and unexplained encounters, from haunted dorms at App State to ghost dogs, soldiers and mystery lights, with historical events tied to many of the tales.
tourboone.com

Waynesville

Every fall, this mountain town offers a History and Haunts Tour. Guides share tales of those who settled in this rugged area; stories of true crime, folklore and family legends during a mile walk along Main Street.
waynesvillewalkingtours.com

Wilkesboro

The Wilkes Heritage Museum hosts monthly ghost walks featuring local legends, true crimes such as the legend of Tom “Dooley” Dula and historic hauntings.
wilkesheritagemuseum.com

PIEDMONT

Asheboro

The Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghostwalk, offered through the Sunset Theatre, weaves spooky stories about the people who lived there, including a tragic death by train, a murderous tale and haunted buildings.
asheboronc.gov

Hillsborough

Year-round tours in the Triangle area’s oldest town take you back to Colonial days. Visit haunted houses, cemeteries and the public execution site of Regulator soldiers hanged in 1771.
hauntedhillsborough.com

Mount Airy

This lantern-lit walking tour through Mount Airy’s streets dives into its historic past, detailing 13 of the town’s “less mortal” friends. A ghost trolley tour also runs, but only on the first Saturday in October and on Oct. 31.
northcarolinamuseum.org

COAST

Beaufort

Led by a pirate guide, the Beaufort Ghost Walk takes you through the historic district of a town founded in 1709 and known as a favorite of Blackbeard. Hear tales of ghost ships, Blackbeard’s curse, Civil War ghosts and spooky encounters at the Old Burying Grounds.
pctourco.com

Outer Banks

The oldest guided walk in Manteo, OBX Ghost Tour searches for eerie happenings in the Outer Banks, from the vanished Roanoke colonists, ghostly pirate tales and unexplained whispers to eerie Manteo historic tales.
obxghosttours.com

Southport

This lantern-led tour dives into small-town lore of hauntings in many pre-Civil War buildings along the historic waterfront as well as the Old Smithville Burying Ground.
oldsouthtourcompany.com