New Hampshire

New Hampshire, one of New England’s six states, features rugged White Mountains, deep forests, and historic towns filled with stories. Its folklore and tales of cryptids rise from colonial history, remote wilderness, and the traditions of isolated communities that lived close to the land.

Legends describe strange creatures moving through the northern woods and ghostly figures haunting coastal settlements. These tales reflect both the wild character of New Hampshire’s landscapes and the lingering fears and superstitions that shaped its past.

Wood Devils (Coös County)

Reports of Wood Devils come from the deep forests of Coös County, near New Hampshire’s northern border with Canada. Witnesses describe them as tall, thin, and covered in hair, with a habit of darting behind trees the instant someone spots them. Their quick movements and elusive nature make them nearly impossible to track.

Unlike Bigfoot sightings elsewhere, Wood Devils appear lankier and more human-like, resembling feral woodsmen rather than giant apes. Hunters and trappers in the White Mountains have shared stories of these strange figures since at least the late 19th century, keeping the legend alive in New Hampshire folklore.

Lake Winnipesaukee Monster

New Hampshire’s largest lake, Winnipesaukee, has carried monster legends for generations. Witnesses describe a massive, long-necked creature rising from the water, its shape more like a prehistoric reptile than a serpent or dragon. Fishermen and lake visitors told of its head and back breaking the surface, and later sightings echoed those early reports.

The lake’s great depth and mysterious underwater caves continue to spark speculation about what might lurk below. Stories of the Winnipesaukee Monster remain part of New Hampshire’s folklore, blending natural wonder with the unknown.

Devil Monkey (Danville, 2001)

In 2001, residents of Danville reported a terrifying creature that resembled a large, baboon-like animal. Witnesses described its long limbs, sharp claws, and piercing screech as it leapt across roads and climbed with startling agility. The locals quickly gave it the name “Devil Monkey.”

Some dismissed the sighting as the work of an escaped exotic pet, but others connected it to similar reports from the Appalachians and New England dating back decades. The Danbury case remains one of New Hampshire’s most striking modern cryptid encounters.

The Witch of Hampton (Goody Cole, 17th century)

Eunice “Goody” Cole of Hampton became the only woman in New Hampshire formally convicted of witchcraft during the 1600s. Authorities imprisoned and whipped her for the charges, and after her death in 1680, townspeople claimed her ghost returned to haunt Hampton.

Local tradition says she cursed the town and that her spirit lingered in the coastal marshes. For centuries, residents blamed strange happenings on Goody Cole’s presence, ensuring her legend endured as one of New Hampshire’s most chilling pieces of folklore.