From abandoned tunnels to haunted hotels, there are plenty of creepy places for paranormal enthusiasts to explore in San Francisco.
If you want to experience a different, darker side of the Fog City, check out our top 5 creepy places to explore in San Francisco below!
How to Have a Truly Scary Experience in San Francisco
For any aspiring ghost hunters out there, San Francisco is the place to be.
Legend has it, for every living soul in San Francisco, six dead ones walk the streets.
However, most of them don’t come out until the fog has rolled in.
To get the most out of exploring these creepy places, make a point to visit them after the sun has already set!
5 Creepy Places to Explore in San Francisco at Night
1. Stow Lake
While the Golden Gate Park may be a fun place to a have a picnic during the day, it has a much different vibe at night.
After dark, many visitors report encountering a ghost of a young woman near Stow Lake.
Legend has it, she is searching for the child who drowned at the lake when she left her stroller unattended.
Will you help her look?
Where to go: Stow Lake Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
2. Alcatraz
The now-abandoned maximum security prison on Alcatraz Island makes most people uneasy during the day, but at night, being there is downright terrifying.
If you are feeling brave, you can take the evening tour of the old prison to see if you encounter the ghost who reportedly murdered a man in Cell 14D.
Where to go: Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA
3. The Mary Ellen Pleasant Park
Mary Ellen Pleasant gained a reputation as a voodoo priestess after several of her colleagues died in mysterious circumstances.
One of her servants supposedly found her taking apart the bones of her long-time business partner… While picking out bits of his brain.
If you want to meet her ghost, go to the park at night and call out her name.
Watch out for crows in the trees – that means she’s nearby!
Where to go: 1501-1699 Octavia St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
4. The Sutro Baths
While some recommend the Sutro Baths as a scenic spot for a date night, we’d avoid the tunnels underneath at nighttime.
They were reportedly used for ritual sacrifices by an underground cult.
If you visit the Sutro Baths at night, light a candle, bring it to the end of the tunnels, and watch what happens.
Legend has it, a restless spirit will come and throw it into the water splashing up against the tunnel.
Where to go: 1004 Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
5. The Queen Anne Hotel
To top off your scary San Francisco visit, book a room at the haunted Queen Anne Hotel.
If you are still able to sleep after exploring the other creepy places on this list, you might find yourself on the floor with your bedding neatly tucked around you by a concerned ghostly inhabitant.
Creepy or sweet? We will let you decide.
Where to go: 1590 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
The Haunt Experience
Want to explore more creepy places in San Francisco?
Check out our Haunted San Francisco Ghost Tour.
Full of tales of scandalous murders and ruthless cult leaders, it will take you on an unforgettable journey through the dimly-lit streets of nighttime San Francisco.
In the past, our tour has been known to stir up some restless spirits… So you might even get to meet a ghost or two!
Ready to discover the dark side of San Francisco?