In the shadowed forests and rugged terrains of New Hampshire, tales of a mysterious, towering creature known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch have stirred curiosity for generations. Often described as a hulking, hairy, bipedal figure, Bigfoot sightings in New Hampshire span rural wilderness areas like the White Mountains to unexpected urban corners like Rochester.
These encounters, steeped in folklore and fueled by eyewitness accounts, paint a vivid picture of a cryptid that eludes definitive proof yet persists in local imagination. From eerie vocalizations to fleeting glimpses of a creature with glowing eyes, New Hampshire Bigfoot sightings offer a captivating blend of mystery, culture, and natural intrigue.
This article explores the history, detailed reports, investigative efforts, and cultural context of these sightings, providing a comprehensive dive into one of America’s most enduring legends.
Table of Contents
New Hampshire Bigfoot Sightings
Bigfoot sightings in New Hampshire weave a tapestry of intrigue across the Granite State’s dense woodlands, rocky ridges, and quiet towns. Known locally as Wood Devils or Shy Men in Abenaki folklore, these creatures are often depicted as elusive, towering figures with shaggy fur and a musky odor. Reports range from historical accounts in Coos County to modern urban encounters in Rochester, reflecting a phenomenon that transcends geography.
The following table compiles all documented New Hampshire Bigfoot sightings from credible sources, including the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) and regional accounts, organized chronologically from the 1930s to 2023.
Comprehensive Table of New Hampshire Bigfoot Sightings:
| Date | Witness | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | Unknown | Coos County, NH | Local residents shared oral traditions of Wood Devils, described as tall, hairy creatures lurking in northern forests, often hiding behind trees or rocks. |
| Mid-1970s | Unknown | Bear Brook State Park, Merrimack County, NH | A woman at a Girl Scout campground reported hearing eerie, unexplained noises at night, distinct from typical wildlife, causing fear among campers. |
| Fall 2000 | Unknown | Near Sunrise Lake, Strafford County, NH | A dog walker felt an unseen presence paralleling them along a dirt road at night, accompanied by rustling sounds in the brush. |
| January 2001 | Unknown | Loudon, Merrimack County, NH | A couple heard a loud, late-night scream, unlike any known animal, echoing through the rural landscape. |
| March 2001 | Unknown | Grafton County, NH | An individual discovered large, human-like tracks in the snow during a wilderness outing, suggesting a Bigfoot presence. |
| July 2003 | Unknown | Cheshire County, NH | A camper reported a powerful, close-range vocalization at night, described as a deep, resonant howl distinct from coyotes or bears. |
| July 2003 | Unknown | Grafton County, NH | Multiple campers were awakened by loud, guttural vocalizations near their campsite, causing alarm and speculation of a Sasquatch. |
| September 2004 | Unknown | Near Rockingham, Rockingham County, NH | An individual heard unusual, high-pitched vocalizations in a forested area, unlike typical wildlife sounds. |
| Summer 2008 | Unknown | Gilford, Belknap County, NH | A family reported seeing a Sasquatch peering through their window on multiple occasions, describing a tall, hairy figure with dark eyes. |
| July 2013 | Unknown | Near Nottingham, Rockingham County, NH | A young bicyclist observed a large, hairy, bipedal creature moving through trees during a daytime ride, a clear visual encounter. |
| September 2014 | Unknown | Outside Errol, Coos County, NH | A farmer heard nighttime vocalizations, described as deep and resonant, suggesting a Bigfoot in the remote northern woods. |
| 2015 | Unknown | North of Concord, Merrimack County, NH | A sighting discussed on a podcast involved a large, bipedal creature seen in a forested area, details unspecified but deemed credible. |
| Spring 2014–2016 | Unknown | Near Greenville, Hillsborough County, NH | A family reported ongoing strange activity, including unexplained noises, rustling, and possible fleeting sightings of a large creature. |
| May 2016 | Unknown | Near Hancock, Hillsborough County, NH | A family experienced a nighttime encounter inside their home, hearing heavy footsteps and sensing a presence. |
| June 2016 | Unknown | Stevens Brook, outside Claremont, Sullivan County, NH | An individual saw a Bigfoot at dawn, described as a 7-foot-tall, bipedal creature with dark, shaggy fur crossing a stream. |
| ~2014 | Unknown | Faraway Mt Trail, Moultonborough, Carroll County, NH | A hiker reported hearing branches snapping, a melon-sized rock thrown nearby, and a strong, musky odor, suggesting a Sasquatch presence. |
| September 2019 | Joe (pseudonym) | Pawtuckaway State Park, Rockingham County, NH | Joe reported loud, clear wood knocks and a haunting, siren-like vocalization, likened to a World War II air raid siren, in the dense forest. Tracks found in snow were cast and analyzed, showing large, human-like prints. |
| 2021 | Unknown | Ossipee Mountains, Carroll County, NH | A delivery driver reported seeing a Sasquatch crossing a road late at night, describing a tall, hairy figure moving swiftly. |
| September 2022 | Unknown | Bear Brook State Park, Allenstown, Merrimack County, NH | A man and his wife saw a creature with large black eyes while hunting, later observing a 7-foot-tall figure with walnut-brown fur. |
| 2023 | Chris Harrelson, Todd Radict | Downtown Rochester, Strafford County, NH | Harrelson saw a Bigfoot at Profile Bank’s drive-thru, and Radict reported one browsing his record store. Additional sightings occurred near Central Square. |
| 2023 | Unknown | Marlborough, Cheshire County, NH | A couple hiking in the quarries saw a reddish-orange creature resembling an orangutan, playing hide-and-seek among rocks, known as the Marlboro Monkey case. |
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Investigation Efforts in New Hampshire
Investigating Bigfoot sightings in New Hampshire involves a blend of scientific rigor, community engagement, and speculative curiosity. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), established in 1995, leads these efforts, maintaining a database of 16 Class A and Class B sightings across counties like Coos, Hillsborough, and Merrimack.
BFRO investigators, including New Hampshire field researcher Crystal Panek, verify reports through interviews, site visits, and analysis of physical evidence like tracks.
For instance, in the 2019 Pawtuckaway case, BFRO volunteers cast large footprints found in snow, noting their human-like shape and depth, suggesting a heavy creature. Beyond the BFRO, local efforts add depth to the investigation landscape. The New Hampshire Bigfoot Research Group, a grassroots collective, organizes expeditions in areas like the White Mountains, using trail cameras, audio recorders, and bait like apples or peanut butter to attract potential Sasquatches.
In 2016, the California-based Searching for Bigfoot team explored a Deering sighting, setting up infrared cameras and analyzing vocalizations, though results were inconclusive. Documentary filmmaker Aleksander Petakov, based in Nashua, has contributed through his 2016 film Shy Man of the White Mountains, which examines Abenaki folklore and settler accounts of Wood Devils. Petakov’s work includes interviews with witnesses and collaborations with local historians to trace cultural roots.
Community initiatives, like Rochester Main Street’s 2023 Bigfoot tracking website, encourage residents to report sightings with incentives like gift cards, reflecting a blend of civic engagement and cryptid curiosity. Media outlets, including New Hampshire Magazine and WMUR News, have covered sightings, while podcasts like Bigfoot Terror in the Woods amplify local stories, such as the 2015 Concord sighting.
Despite these efforts, no definitive evidence—such as DNA, clear photographs, or skeletal remains—has emerged, fueling skepticism. Critics argue that misidentification of bears, moose, or even human pranksters may explain many reports, yet the persistence of detailed accounts keeps investigators engaged.
Detailed Case Studies
September 2022 Sighting in Bear Brook State Park, Allenstown
On September 11, 2022, a man and his pregnant wife were squirrel hunting in Bear Brook State Park, Allenstown, Merrimack County, around 2 PM. The couple noticed an unusual silence in the forest, broken by a loud bang resembling tree chopping. No other people were nearby, and the sound was unlike typical human activity.
A week later, the man returned alone, hunting from a tree stand. At dusk, he glimpsed a creature with large, reflective black eyes peering through the brush, approximately 50 yards away. Initially dismissing it as imagination, he continued hunting. Later, while walking back to his vehicle, he saw bright eyes 7 feet off the ground, belonging to a bipedal creature with walnut-brown, long fur. The figure stood motionless, staring directly at him.
Startled, the witness shouted to his wife over the phone, clutching his rifle for reassurance. The creature then turned and fled into the dense woods, moving with surprising agility.
Reported to the BFRO and featured on the Sasquatch Theory podcast, this Class A sighting is notable for its vivid details, including the creature’s height, fur color, and eye shine, as well as the witness’s emotional response, which lent credibility to the account. The remote setting of Bear Brook, with its thick forests and abundant wildlife, aligns with typical Bigfoot habitats, adding plausibility to the encounter.
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July 2013 Sighting Near Nottingham
On a clear July afternoon in 2013, a young bicyclist was riding along a forested trail near Nottingham, Rockingham County. Around noon, the witness noticed movement in the trees and stopped to observe. A large, hairy, bipedal creature, approximately 6–7 feet tall, emerged briefly from the foliage, moving parallel to the trail before disappearing into denser woods.
The creature’s dark, shaggy fur and upright posture distinguished it from local wildlife like bears or deer. The bicyclist, shaken but curious, reported the sighting to the BFRO, which classified it as Class A due to the clear daylight observation and the witness’s calm recollection. The encounter’s brevity and the witness’s reluctance to provide a name reflect common patterns in Bigfoot reports, where fear of ridicule discourages public disclosure.
The Nottingham area, with its mix of forests and open fields, provides an ideal setting for such sightings, supporting theories that Sasquatches may roam transitional habitats.
2023 Rochester Downtown Sightings
In June 2023, Rochester, Strafford County, became an unexpected hotspot for New Hampshire Bigfoot sightings. Chris Harrelson, an employee at Profile Bank, reported a startling encounter at the bank’s drive-thru window. Around 8 PM, Harrelson noticed a tall, hairy figure approaching the window, standing over 7 feet with dark, matted fur and a strong, musky odor.
He described the creature’s eyes as deep-set and reflective, staring intently before it retreated into the shadows. Harrelson, initially skeptical, stated, “I heard about the Bigfoot sightings last summer, but I never thought I’d see one out in the open like that.” Concurrently, Todd Radict, owner of Skeletone Records, reported a similar creature browsing the AC/DC section of his store. Radict noted the creature’s massive build and slow, deliberate movements, estimating its height at 7–8 feet.
Additional reports emerged from Central Square, where residents claimed to see a Sasquatch near the Parson Main monument. The Rochester Police Department, led by Officer Brandon Kimbrough, issued a statement urging residents to remain calm and avoid contact, emphasizing public safety. Rochester Main Street launched a community website to document sightings, offering $25 gift cards for credible evidence.
These urban sightings, reported in local news, stand out for their unusual setting, challenging the traditional view of Bigfoot as a wilderness dweller. The multiple witnesses and public response add a layer of credibility, though skeptics suggest pranksters or misidentified figures may be responsible.
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Bigfoot Sightings vs Other Cryptid Sightings in New Hampshire
Beyond Bigfoot, New Hampshire hosts a variety of cryptid and paranormal phenomena, enriching its folklore. The Wood Devils or Shy Men of the White Mountains, rooted in Abenaki traditions, are often conflated with Sasquatch due to their tall, hairy, elusive nature. A 2024 podcast episode of Bigfoot Terror in the Woods highlighted these creatures, describing them as grayish, forest-dwelling beings that startle loggers and hikers.
Other cryptids include the Pukwudgie, a small, troll-like creature from Wampanoag lore, reported in southern New Hampshire near Pawtuckaway State Park. In 2018, a hiker claimed to see a 3-foot-tall, gray-skinned figure darting through underbrush, accompanied by high-pitched giggles. UFO sightings are also prevalent, with 1,205 reports since 1956, including 10 in 2024. Notable cases include a red orb in Louden on March 15, 2024, and erratic lights in Lee on July 22, 2024.
Paranormal phenomena, such as ghostly apparitions in Manchester’s Cedar Swamp Preserve and unexplained footsteps in old mills, add to the state’s eerie reputation. For example, a 2020 report from Derry described disembodied voices and shadowy figures in an abandoned farmhouse.
While no direct evidence links Bigfoot sightings to these phenomena, shared environmental factors—remote forests, low population density, and cultural storytelling—may contribute to their prevalence. Some researchers propose that acoustic anomalies, like infrasound, could explain overlapping sensations of unease, but no conclusive connections exist.
Conclusion
New Hampshire Bigfoot sightings remain a compelling chapter in the state’s cultural and natural history, blending indigenous lore, settler tales, and modern encounters. From the haunting Wood Devils of Coos County to the startling urban sightings in Rochester, these reports capture the imagination, despite the absence of concrete evidence.
Ongoing investigations by groups like the BFRO and local enthusiasts, coupled with community engagement, keep the Bigfoot sightings in New Hampshire alive in public discourse.
Whether viewed as glimpses of an undiscovered species or products of misidentification, these stories reflect humanity’s fascination with the unknown, ensuring Sasquatch remains a vibrant part of the Granite State’s legacy.
