Explore Haunted San Francisco: A Free Spooky Scavenger Hunt

While San Francisco is known for its beauty, innovation, and quirkiness, it also has pockets of a dark past. Ghost stories, haunted houses, and spooky history lie in this city, especially in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.

The Haight is best known for its hippie history. The 1960s and Summer of Love was a time of colorful counterculture, but this narrative often hides the shadow side of this neighborhood. Violent crimes abounded, creepy characters made their mark, and it’s said that some spirits and ghosts still roam the area to this day.

Are you brave enough to look deeper?

We created this free, self-guided, haunted scavenger hunt so you can explore some of San Francisco's creepiest locations and test your courage.

Bring your friends along—you'll need their support.

The spooky details

Suggested starting points

☀️ Daytime hunt: Ritual Coffee Roasters

If you are completing the hunt during the daytime, start at Ritual Coffee Roasters (You'll need a cleansing "ritual" before meeting the ghosts).

📍Address: 1300 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117

🔦 After-dark hunt: The Page

If you are completing the hunt after dark, start at The Page (Because you’ll need some liquid courage before this adventure…).

📍Address: 298 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117

Alright. Ready to uncover more of San Francisco's supernatural secrets?

Here's what you have to do next.

Step 1: Download the PDF below to get all six riddles.

Step 2: Head to your starting point with your friends.

Step 3: Solve Riddle 1, head to the correct spot, and take a picture for the mems.

Step 4: Repeat until you finish Riddle 6!

Note: While these haunted locations are accessible to the public, please respect private property and local regulations. And bring friends—safety in numbers, especially when ghost hunting.

Did you enjoy this scavenger hunt?! We hope so! This was just a candy corn-sized taste of what our crew at Handstand creates for folks. If you want more in-depth riddles, photo and video content, challenges, and a longer hunt experience, level up with a custom app-based scavenger hunt!

Are you looking for more haunted spots around the city? Here are several other famed places you can visit for more phantom action.

More Haunted Places in San Francisco

Alcatraz Island

Once a notorious federal prison, Alcatraz is known for eerie tales of restless spirits. Visitors have reported hearing cell doors slam, feeling cold drafts, and even witnessing apparitions of former prisoners and guards.

The Queen Anne Hotel

This elegant Victorian-era building was originally a girls' boarding school. It's said that the spirit of Miss Mary Lake, the former headmistress, haunts the hotel. Guests have reported their belongings being mysteriously packed or tucked away.

Neptune Society Columbarium

The Neptune Society Columbarium is an old, ornate building that houses the cremated remains of thousands of people. Some visitors have reported hearing voices, whispers, or even the sound of crying in the corridors, especially near older urns.

Sutro Bath Ruins

The historic Sutro Baths, now a scenic ruin by the ocean, have been the site of tragic deaths. Some visitors claim to feel an ominous presence or hear disembodied voices echoing in the tunnels beneath the ruins.

The Westerfield House

The Westerfield House is a Victorian mansion in the Alamo Square area that has a haunted history, including tales of witchcraft and a history of paranormal sightings. People have reported seeing ghostly figures and hearing unexplained noises.

The Curran Theatre

Built in 1922, this theater has seen its share of ghostly occurrences. Some say the Curran Theatre is haunted by the spirit of a stagehand who died in an accident there. Staff and visitors have reported strange noises, flickering lights, and eerie feelings.

Conclusion

San Francisco's haunted history runs deeper than most realize. From the counterculture-turned-creepy corners of Haight-Ashbury to the echoing cells of Alcatraz, spirits linger across SF. Once you've explored the Haunted Hunt, check out these not-so-spooky hidden gems in San Francisco to keep adventuring. Or reach out to us to create a custom scavenger hunt experience!