The grieving wife and mother took her own life after her husband and son lost theirs in the Canyon. Now, the Wailing Woman is said to haunt the Transept Trail, as well as the Grand Canyon Lodge on the park’s northern rim.
As the second most visited national park in the expansive expanse of the United States, the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona is a geological wonder, carved by time into the stark Arizona landscape. From the depths of the chasms to the tops of the cliffs, the Grand Canyon is a testament to the raw power of nature and the prosperous tapestry of history woven into its rocks.
Preserved for posterity in 1919 through the visionary efforts of President Theodore Roosevelt, Grand Canyon National Park has since become a haven for adventurers, nature lovers, and those seeking the untamed beauty of the American Southwest. But beneath the bright vistas and majestic canyon walls lurks a haunting legend—a tale that whispers through the centuries, haunting the Transept Trail.
Haunted by a crying woman
In the overdue 19th century, and according to some versions, in the 1920s, tragedy struck on the edge of the Transept Trail at the northern edge of the park, one of about 50 hiking trails that crisscross the canyon.
Hundreds of people have died in the park, slipping on rocks, exposing themselves to water, drowning. At least one of them is said to haunt the park. It all started with a father and son, caught in a sudden downpour, who fell to their deaths on a trail.
Left in mourning after this tragic event, the wife succumbed to the abyss of despair and committed suicide in their summer cottage.
Legend has it that this melancholy woman, dressed in a white dress, adorned with a blue shawl and a garland of blue flowers around her neck, now walks the Transept Way in a see-through form, constantly searching for her child and husband.
The ethereal being, known as the Wailing Woman or Wandering Woman, cuts a haunting figure against the crimson hues of the canyon rocks. Hikers and explorers who venture along the Transept Trail recount encounters with this spectral figure, recounting eerie sightings that blur the lines between the living and the dead.
The Weeping Woman, true to her name, can often be heard screaming with a disembodied voice, her plaintive wails echoing throughout the expansive emptiness of the canyon.
Grand Canyon Lodge
The Wailing Woman is also said to haunt the very popular Grand Canyon Lodge 8,000 feet above the water with a good view of the canyon and it is said to be there that she took her life. The lodge was first built in 1927 so this version would make the story take place much later than other versions.
Similar to the trail she supposedly haunts, Wailing Woman is often seen wearing blue flowers and a scarf around her head when seen here. Either it's a white dress with blue flowers, blue scarves, or blue flowers around her neck. She's not seen outside though, and it's said that if you leave the door open until today, it will most likely close.
According to the stories, many witnesses saw the Weeping Woman when the cottage burned down on September 1, 1932, as a reminder that she had never left and perhaps never would.
References:
Grand Canyon Lodge (US National Park Service)
Signs of Paranormal Activity at Grand Canyon National Park – Part 1
Image Source: Pixabay.com
