The Santa Lucia Mountain Range stretches from Monterey down the California coast. For centuries, there have been tales of mysterious entities watching over these mountains. If you’ve ever had a strange feeling of being watched while hiking in Big Sur, it’s likely because you are being observed.

No one really knows how long the Dark Watchers have been guarding the Santa Lucia Mountains, but these stories date back to the Spanish settlers in the early 18th century. These settlers, on their way to the Pacific Ocean, reported seeing dark figures watching them, which they called “Los Vigilantes Oscuros.”

Interestingly, American settlers also reported similar sightings. Whether you’re a native American tribe member, an early settler, or just someone hiking the trails, everyone seems to feel the eerie sensation of being watched. These figures mostly appear in the late afternoon, just before dusk, usually when it’s hazy. They are described as dark, 10-foot-tall figures with long limbs, sometimes wearing wide-brimmed hats and cloaks. Look too closely, and they vanish.

Despite the unsettling feeling they evoke, those who have seen the Dark Watchers say they don’t seem to be dangerous. They prefer to stay in the shadows but will come into view if someone approaches. Some believe these watchers follow travelers through the mountains, always staying hidden if they detect technology like phones or GPS devices.

One famous observer of the Dark Watchers was the author John Steinbeck. In his story “Flight,” he describes a character seeing a dark figure on top of a hill, emphasizing it’s best to ignore these watchers and mind your own business. Steinbeck’s family, including his son Thomas and his mother Olive, who was a teacher, also had encounters with these mysterious watchers.

Many recent sightings match these old descriptions closely. Hikers and travelers have reported seeing hooded figures that vanish as quickly as they appear. For example, Dan from Phoenix described seeing a hooded figure while hiking, and Elizabeth from San Mateo saw a similar figure near a reservoir.

As to what the Dark Watchers really are, no one knows for sure. Some believe it’s a simple case of pareidolia, where people see familiar shapes in random patterns like shadows or trees. Another theory involves the Brockenspecter, a phenomenon where a hiker’s shadow is cast on mountain mist, often surrounded by a rainbow halo called a glory.

Other theories suggest environmental factors like low oxygen levels at high elevations could cause hallucinations. There’s also the infrasound theory, where low-frequency sounds created by wind cause feelings of unease.

Despite these explanations, some sightings don’t fit neatly into these scientific theories, leaving the mystery of the Dark Watchers tantalizingly unsolved. Whether you believe in them or not, the legends of the Dark Watchers add a spooky charm to the already mysterious Santa Lucia Mountains.

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