Black Star Canyon's Haunted Mysteries, Revealed

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — Black Star Canyon draws the unaware into its depths with an "edge of your seat" mystery. Stories of atrocities that may have occurred here lure the curious, and each year, people get lost in its depths.

Located in the heart of the Santa Ana Mountains, Black Star Canyon has been called one of the strangest paranormal locations in Orange County, with hikers certain they are being watched.

"Every time I do this hike the trail is somewhere different," Chris Hazzard of the hikingguy.com website said in his video below. A large part of the hike involves scrabbling up boulders, the farther up you go. Sometimes there are accidents. Orange County Fire Authority is no stranger to the area, where hikers are often airlifted in the middle of the day, or sometimes in the dead of night.

During the day, the hike through Black Star Canyon is bucolic and quiet. Hikers are granted with gorgeous views and a waterfall at the end. But don't stay after dark. After midnight, there have been many deadly crashes on the roadways, and cases of missing hikers located at the witching hour, most residents who are familiar with Black Star Canyon call it "the darkest place" in OC.

It's also a favorite teen hangout with kids who are quite sure it's haunted according to an Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman. Chris August of OC Ghost and Legends Tours talked about Black Star Canyon as a "paranormal grab bag."

"We see everything you can imagine out here," August said in an OC Weekly video interview.

Urban legends abound about the canyon, and August says most are based on some sort of truth. Much of what is seen or experienced in Black Star is also in the sky.

"Black Star is a triple threat, outside of ghosts, there are report of possible Sasquatch sightings in the national forest," August said. "In the early morning hours, we've also spotted weird things in the sky."

Nighttime hikers have heard eerie real time sounds of music, tribal drums and conversation in the bushes have all been heard when August takes tours through.

Screams and howls can be heard after dark, as well as faint chanting. A massacre once took place there, according to folklore. Little is known about this local, but much local lore exists.

According to record, Black Star Canyon was where a group of trappers searching for their stolen horses fought a band of Tongva natives in a "rifle vs. bow and arrow" massacre in 1831.

In 1899, Black Star Canyon was home to grizzly bears, now all long gone.

An old mine shaft from the Black Star Coal Mining Company still exists, and the lower tunnel in the falls is credited with being an old mine shaft.

Hikers may find homeless people, run into cult activity, and will definitely find an old, abandoned bus and many unexplained outbuildings.

The "Private Property" signs should keep most away, but the lure is too great for many.

Have you hiked or searched for spirits or other phenomenon in Black Star Canyon?

Let us know in comments and share your pictures on Patch.