Have you hiked Haunted Hill at the east end of Menaul? (Albuquerque: 2014, house)
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So we recently moved to ABQ and landed in the Foothills.
We continue to marvel at our luck finding this house so close to the Embudo Canyon trails at the end of Menaul. We go out every morning for a hike, and it's just exquisite. Now that it's cooling down, we're going out at dusk sometimes, too. We find the area invigorating, beautiful, captivating.
Now, I went to the library recently searching for all things ABQ. I want to learn as much as I can about my new city, and I found a book called "Haunted Albuquerque." I thought it would be a fun read, and it HAS been a fun read, especially because I learned I've been hiking Haunted Hill for the last two months!
Apparently some gruesome things happened on the hill pretty much right behind my house, yeah, at the end of Menaul, and if I listen carefully, I can hear women getting dragged, screaming, see hovering lights from lanterns in the crags of the mountain just above.
I just thought it was a strange new bird I wasn't yet familiar with I was hearing on my walk the other morning. Even my dog stopped to look and listen. I wonder... Yikes!
I'm curious what you've heard about Haunted Hill. People online say it's creepy and weird and there's bad energy there. I get good vibes there, myself.
I've hiked in that area a lot, and this is the first I've heard of anything called "Haunted Hill." I'd take it with a grain of salt, like any urban legend. Is it supposed to be the hill immediately to the east of the Menaul parking lot trailhead? There are trails that skirt around the bottom of it, but I recall being on top of it only once, and coming upon a herd of 11 muledeer placidly grazing, it was a beautiful sight. Usually I hike around there from the Indian School trailhead.
The most common bird you will hear (and see) there is the curve-billed thrasher, which likes to perch on the abundant cholla in the area. Scrub jays make their racket all over the foothills. You've probably also heard coyotes at night making a variety of sounds.
Sorry, but I've never seen or heard anything paranormal. Report back if you have a close encounter!
You can take a "ghost tour" of Old Town, if you're into that sort of thing. I did it once because a friend visiting from out of town wanted to do it. But I thought it was lame, and she said it wasn't as good as others she's been on in other cities.
I've hiked in that area a lot, and this is the first I've heard of anything called "Haunted Hill." I'd take it with a grain of salt, like any urban legend. Is it supposed to be the hill immediately to the east of the Menaul parking lot trailhead? There are trails that skirt around the bottom of it, but I recall being on top of it only once, and coming upon a herd of 11 muledeer placidly grazing, it was a beautiful sight. Usually I hike around there from the Indian School trailhead.
The most common bird you will hear (and see) there is the curve-billed thrasher, which likes to perch on the abundant cholla in the area. Scrub jays make their racket all over the foothills. You've probably also heard coyotes at night making a variety of sounds.
Sorry, but I've never seen or heard anything paranormal. Report back if you have a close encounter!
You can take a "ghost tour" of Old Town, if you're into that sort of thing. I did it once because a friend visiting from out of town wanted to do it. But I thought it was lame, and she said it wasn't as good as others she's been on in other cities.
Yes, from what I read in the book and a couple online posts I found, it seems people park in the lot and climb the hill just east as you mention. You can look up and see "caves" where the big boulders meet other boulders, which is where this ghost is supposed to drag his unsuspecting ladies. I believe he carries a lantern on the darker nights. I plan on scaling the hill at some point. We'll see how that goes!
I just looked up the curve-billed thrasher. Yes, it's certainly a bird I've seen, along with dozens of hummingbirds. I've never in my life seen FLOCKS of hummingbirds before coming here. What a delight on the trail, although it seems we're down to pairs these days. June and July must have been either mating season or they were migrating, given this is a popular route for them, I've heard.
However, this bird my dog and I heard one morning was just eerie. The sound came from a bush off the trail about 20 feet away. We stood looking, waiting for the bird to emerge, but no luck. I would swear it was a bird; it didn't sound like an animal in distress, just really something different, almost wailing. I wonder if the ghost hangs out in daylight, too...
I'll let you know if I run into anything suspicious, so keep checking back!
Hey Algiz,
I'm new to city data as well as Albuquerque. I live near Tramway Blvd and I know the place you're talking about. I ride my bike to that park often. There are many cool trails going all along and around that hillside. I usually ride late in the afternoon, near dusk. I never knew it was haunted.
I decided to do a quick internet scan and there's definitely talk about that area. People say they've had first-hand experiences out there with strange noises and swinging lights in the distance, which seem to vanish when approached (figures). I personally haven't experienced anything strange out there, except maybe a Vinegaroon! The area "feels" pretty normal to me.
As we move into winter, my bike rides are going to get closer and closer to dusk. I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything strange.
Hey Algiz,
I'm new to city data as well as Albuquerque. I live near Tramway Blvd and I know the place you're talking about. I ride my bike to that park often. There are many cool trails going all along and around that hillside. I usually ride late in the afternoon, near dusk. I never knew it was haunted.
I decided to do a quick internet scan and there's definitely talk about that area. People say they've had first-hand experiences out there with strange noises and swinging lights in the distance, which seem to vanish when approached (figures). I personally haven't experienced anything strange out there, except maybe a Vinegaroon! The area "feels" pretty normal to me.
As we move into winter, my bike rides are going to get closer and closer to dusk. I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything strange.
Yeah, aren't the trails the most amazing things, so many to explore, and the mountain just beautiful, especially right before the sun comes up and over in the morning? And then look west, and you can see the western edge of ABQ! I have never seen an actual edge of a city. This is a super unique place.
So, you found some info, too? I wonder if it's all recent hype, which might explain why aries63. who sounds like s/he's been in the area some good bit longer than we have, hasn't heard of Haunted Hill.
Now, you said "vinegaroon?" I looked that up, and OMG, is this what you saw out there? It says they're harmless, but I'll keep my distance nonetheless. Haunted Hill is turning out interesting!
There are rattlesnakes throughout the foothills, which I've seen numerous times, and had a few close encounters, but never saw a vinegaroon.
There was a famous police shooting of a homeless man, James Boyd, in 2014, near the Copper trailhead, south of where you are. I've never heard if he haunts that area.
And of course there was the famous TWA Flight 260 crash in 1955, closer to the Crest, but I've never heard of any hauntings there, either. It's a difficult hike up Domingo Baca Canyon to the crash site which I've never attempted. There are too many other beautiful trails. But there's an excellent book about it, called "The Crash of TWA Flight 260", by Charles Williams, which you can find at the Public Library. Interesting from an aviation history standpoint.
If you enjoy the Embudo Canyon trails, you should try Elena Gallegos picnic area trails, north of Academy, much prettier and very green now.
After 23 years here, we saw our first vinegaroon just a couple of days ago. Somehow, the lizards and birds that patrol our courtyards missed it and my wife dispatched it. It was an ugly thing.
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Yikes!
