By Chester Moore
The outdoors is where many of us find peace. We hike forest trails, camp beneath the stars, fish remote rivers and disappear into places where the noise of everyday life fades away. Yet history reminds us that even the most beautiful landscapes can sometimes become the setting for unimaginable evil.
Few criminals understood that better than Ted Bundy.
In the debut episode of Dark Outdoors®, I examine the little-discussed connection between Bundy and America’s forests with insights from a New York Times bestselling author who interviewed Bundy himself. We also explore practical lessons every outdoorsman, hiker, camper, hunter and angler can use to stay safer in remote places.
Dark Outdoors Podcast | Episode 001
🎧 Listen to This Investigation
Listen to “Apex Predators: Ted Bundy and Serial Killers in America’s Forests.”
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/apex-predators-ted-bundy-and-serial-killers-in/id1630809603?i=1000576073355
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5i6bwR6RigHQJ9ZlYe3biM?si=46a658a128fc44bb
Dark Outdoors® Linktree: https://linktr.ee/darkoutdoorspodcast
Investigation Summary
Ted Bundy is remembered as one of America’s most notorious serial killers, responsible for murdering at least 30 young women during the 1970s, although investigators believe the true number may never be known. Intelligent, charismatic and manipulative, Bundy often gained the trust of victims by pretending to need assistance before launching his attacks.
What receives far less attention is how often he used the outdoors as part of his crimes.
Investigators determined that Bundy repeatedly transported victims into remote forests, mountain recreation areas, logging roads and isolated wilderness locations. Those places offered privacy, fewer witnesses and terrain that complicated search efforts. In several cases, hikers eventually discovered human remains months after victims had disappeared.
This episode examines that overlooked aspect of Bundy’s crimes while asking a larger question:
What can modern outdoor enthusiasts learn from one of America’s most infamous serial killers?
Ted Bundy and America’s Forests
Bundy’s crimes stretched across Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Florida.
Although many victims disappeared from populated areas, investigators determined that numerous crime scenes and body recovery sites were located in remote outdoor environments.
Forested hillsides.
Logging roads.
Mountain pull-offs.
Remote recreation areas.
These places weren’t selected by accident.
Isolation reduced the chance of witnesses and made investigations far more difficult. Weather, wildlife, vegetation and rugged terrain often complicated search efforts and evidence recovery.
Today those same challenges continue facing law enforcement whenever disappearances occur in wilderness settings.
Why Remote Outdoor Areas Can Become Crime Scenes
Millions of Americans safely enjoy forests, parks and public lands every year.
The outdoors itself isn’t dangerous.
But isolation can create opportunity for criminals.
Remote areas often have:
- Limited cell service
- Few or no surveillance cameras
- Slower emergency response
- Large search areas
- Environmental conditions that rapidly alter evidence
These realities make wilderness investigations among the most difficult cases detectives and search teams encounter.
Understanding those challenges doesn’t mean fearing the outdoors.
It means approaching wild places with preparation and awareness.
Outdoor Safety Lessons
One reason I wanted Dark Outdoors to begin with Ted Bundy is because his crimes demonstrate an uncomfortable truth.
The greatest danger in the outdoors often isn’t wildlife.
It’s another human being.
Several simple habits can greatly improve your safety:
- Tell someone where you’re going.
- Share your expected return time.
- Stay alert at isolated trailheads.
- Trust your instincts.
- Carry reliable communication equipment.
- Consider lawful personal protection options.
- If something feels wrong, leave immediately.
Preparedness doesn’t take away from adventure.
It helps ensure you’ll enjoy another one.
Why This Investigation Still Matters
More than three decades after Ted Bundy’s execution, his crimes continue influencing criminal investigations and outdoor safety education.
Modern investigators now have DNA analysis, GPS technology, drones and digital forensics, yet wilderness crime scenes remain among the most difficult environments to investigate.
The lessons learned from Bundy’s crimes continue shaping search-and-rescue operations, homicide investigations and personal safety recommendations for people who enjoy the outdoors.
Related Dark Outdoors Investigations
If this investigation interests you, continue exploring:
➡ The Little Girl on the Island: The Unsolved Murder of Dannarriah Finley
➡ Five Encounters That Taught Me to Fear People More Than Wildlife
➡ Feral Humans: Separating Fact from Fiction
About Chester Moore
Chester Moore is an award-winning wildlife journalist, investigative communicator and conservation advocate. He is the creator and host of Dark Outdoors®, a podcast exploring the intersection of true crime, dangerous wildlife, unexplained mysteries and the outdoors. The Dark Outdoors® podcast has won eight “Excellence In Media” awards in the last three years fro the Press Club of Southeast Texas and the Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association.