Spooky Trails and Tall Tales Massachusetts

Massachusetts—a New England state with a proud history and a vibrant culture. But there is more to this place than white church steeples and town greens. In the forests, meadows, and beaches surrounding quaint, colonial towns lurk screeching ghosts, cursed treasures, sea serpents and other strange creatures, and even the Devil himself, all awaiting the next hiker to stumble down the trail …

For years, tales of these mysterious beings and places existed only in whispers and campfire tales, but now for the first time these legends have been collected and retold in one volume: Spooky Trails and Tall Tales Massachusetts. Alongside each of these captivating tales is the necessary route and trailhead information brave readers will need to go beyond their town lines and test their nerve.

With dozens of stories and hikes throughout, readers will discover and explore the legends and forgotten histories from the Berkshires to the Bay.

Stephen Gencarella is a professor of folklore studies and humor studies at UMass Amherst where his research focuses on the cultural history and legends of New England. He is also the Resident Folklorist at the Connecticut River Museum and an avid hiker. He lives in Lyme, Connecticut.