Atlanta's Doll's Head Trail May Be the Creepiest Hike in the Country

Occasional snakes and spiders are normally the creepiest things hikers encounter on the trail, but at Constitution Lakes Park in Atlanta, Georgia, there's something else lurking in the woods. The park is home to Doll's Head Trail: a path decorated with—you guessed it—doll's heads, and it's just as unsettling as you might imagine.

Before it resembled a scene from a nightmare, Constitution Lakes Park was home to a 19th-century brick factory. The brickworks shut down more than 50 years ago, according to Atlas Obscura, and the area has since been overtaken by the surrounding wilderness. The abandoned clay pits have filled with rainwater and are now manmade ponds called the Constitution Lakes. In 2003, Dekalb County, Georgia purchased the 125-acre site and installed trails and boardwalks so the public could explore the preserve and enjoy its natural beauty.

But trees and wildlife aren't the only things you'll find in the park. Venture down Doll’s Head Trail and you'll see dozens of disembodied doll heads, many displayed artfully with signs and accessories that only add to their fear factor.

Local carpenter Joel Slaton was inspired to create the trail after noticing discarded junk while hiking through the park. Every piece that's displayed along the path is made from objects recovered from the site: That includes doll parts, as well as bottles, hunks of old brick, and even appliances. Hikers are invited to create art of their own—Slaton just asks that they only use "found" materials and leave the existing displays undisturbed.

If you're looking for a unconventional tourist destination, you can hike Doll's Head Trail by visiting Constitution Lakes Park at 1305 South River Industrial Boulevard SE in Atlanta—and if you'd like to keep some distance between you and the dismembered doll heads, you can take a virtual tour of the trail below.

[h/t Atlas Obscura]