Top 10 Bigfoot Sightings: The Provo Sighting, 2012

Sep 9

Welcome to the fifth installment of our series on the top 10 Bigfoot sightings. In this series, we dive deep into each sighting, exploring the evidence, the controversy, and the impact each one has had on the ongoing quest to understand the mystery of Bigfoot. Our journey continues with the compelling Provo Sighting, 2012.

The Top Ten Bigfoot Sightings in Provo, 2012: A Deep Dive into the Evidence

Provo, Utah, isn’t typically the first place that comes to mind when you think of Bigfoot. Nestled between the towering Wasatch Mountains and Utah Lake, Provo is known for its stunning scenery, family-friendly activities, and outdoor recreation. However, 2012 turned out to be a notable year for Bigfoot enthusiasts as a string of sightings put Provo in the spotlight. But was there any real evidence found, or was it all just mass hysteria? Let’s dig deeper into the year that Provo became a hotspot for Sasquatch encounters and explore the evidence that emerged during the sightings.

1. The Provo Canyon Encounter – Viral Video Footage

The most widely known and possibly the most debated evidence of the Provo Bigfoot sightings in 2012 was a video taken in Provo Canyon. A group of hikers stumbled upon what they initially thought was a bear, but as they approached, it stood upright, appearing humanoid and massive in size. In the footage, you can hear the hikers react in alarm as the creature quickly moves off into the thick trees. The figure’s posture, gait, and size led many to believe that it wasn’t a bear, but something far more mysterious—possibly a Sasquatch.

This footage went viral on platforms like YouTube, quickly amassing millions of views and attracting the attention of Bigfoot researchers and skeptics alike. The shaky, brief video shows a dark figure obscured by foliage, and while it does appear large and human-like, the poor quality of the video leaves much to be desired. Skeptics argue that the figure could have easily been a person in a costume, especially since the location is accessible to hikers. However, the hikers’ apparent fear and confusion suggest that they weren’t expecting to encounter anything out of the ordinary, adding some authenticity to their account.

Despite its grainy quality, the Provo Canyon video remains one of the most famous pieces of evidence from 2012, fueling debates between believers and skeptics.

2. Footprints in the Snow – Physical Evidence

During the winter of 2012, a family on a winter hike near Bridal Veil Falls stumbled upon something unusual: a series of large footprints in the snow. The prints, which measured over 15 inches long and had a stride much wider than a human’s, led deep into the forest. The family, intrigued but cautious, took photos of the footprints and later shared them with local Bigfoot researchers. Some researchers took casts of the footprints, which showed a distinct, humanoid shape with toes, adding to the mystery.

What makes these footprints compelling is their location. Bridal Veil Falls is a popular tourist spot, but during the winter, it’s less frequented, reducing the likelihood of a prank. Additionally, the size of the prints and the length of the stride were difficult to attribute to any known animal in the region. While skeptics argued that the prints could have been distorted by the melting snow, the consistency of the footprints, along with their depth, made some believe they were left by something much heavier and taller than a human.

Though no definitive DNA or other biological evidence was found alongside the footprints, casts were taken and circulated among Bigfoot researchers, who pointed to them as physical evidence of a creature’s presence in the area.

3. Mysterious Howls in Y Mountain – Auditory Evidence

Throughout the summer of 2012, residents near Y Mountain reported hearing strange howls late at night. The sounds, which many described as long, guttural wails, seemed to emanate from the forested slopes. Some hikers even claimed to hear these howls during the day, but the night-time occurrences became so frequent that several people tried to record them. However, the howls were faint and difficult to capture clearly on handheld devices, leaving only personal accounts to support the claims.

Many of the people who heard the howls noted that they didn’t resemble the calls of any known animal in the area. The sounds were too deep to be a coyote, too resonant to be an owl, and too prolonged to be a wolf. Some Bigfoot enthusiasts believed the howls were territorial or communication calls from a Sasquatch, similar to reports of Bigfoot vocalizations in other regions. Researchers pointed out that Bigfoot has been known to emit loud, eerie calls, often described as screams or howls, in various other sightings across the U.S.

While no clear recordings were made, the sheer number of reports, combined with their proximity to other sightings, made the howls one of the more chilling pieces of evidence from Provo’s 2012 encounters.

4. Daytime Sighting at Utah Lake – Eyewitness Testimony

Another intriguing event occurred at Utah Lake in the summer of 2012, when a local fisherman reported seeing a large, bipedal figure near the shoreline. According to the fisherman’s account, the creature was covered in dark fur and stood at least seven feet tall. As soon as the fisherman spotted it, the creature quickly retreated into a wooded area. The sighting was brief, but the fisherman’s detailed description matched similar reports of Bigfoot from across the country.

Eyewitness accounts are often met with skepticism, as they rely on personal perception, which can be influenced by fear, lighting, or distance. However, in this case, the fisherman’s story was consistent with several other reports of large, hairy creatures being seen near the Provo River and Utah Lake areas. Unfortunately, no photos or videos were taken during this sighting, but the detailed description added credibility to the fisherman’s testimony.

5. The Provo River Encounter – Another Close Call

A pair of campers, spending a weekend fishing along the Provo River, reported seeing a large, upright figure watching them from across the water. According to their account, the figure stood partially hidden among the trees but was unmistakably bipedal. When the campers noticed the figure, it moved away into the forest, disappearing from view. Though the campers were too stunned to capture any footage, their report gained traction within the local Bigfoot community due to the proximity of their sighting to other encounters that year.

This sighting was notable for its proximity to the Provo River, which was a recurring location for multiple sightings that year. Some researchers suggested that the river and its surrounding forested areas could be a natural habitat for a creature like Bigfoot, offering both water and food sources, as well as ample cover from human detection.

6. The Spanish Fork Canyon Roadrunner – A Fast, Fleeting Encounter

One of the more fleeting but notable sightings occurred along Spanish Fork Canyon Road when a driver reported seeing a large, hairy figure dart across the road in the blink of an eye. The driver described the figure as moving at an incredible speed, far faster than any human could run, and disappearing into the thick brush on the other side of the road. This sighting was brief and happened in poor lighting conditions, which made it difficult for the witness to capture any clear details or a photo.

Despite its brevity, this sighting added to the growing belief that something unusual was roaming the forests and canyons around Provo. The driver’s description of the creature’s speed and size matched other reports from the area, suggesting that the same figure could have been responsible for multiple sightings throughout 2012.

7. Lone Peak Climbing Encounter

While ascending Lone Peak, a group of experienced climbers had an unexpected sighting of what they described as a large, hairy humanoid figure watching them from a distance. The creature stayed far enough away that no photos could be taken, but the climbers claimed that it was too large and too human-like to be any known animal. They reported that the figure remained still for a while, seemingly observing them, before turning and disappearing into the trees.

This sighting gained traction because of the credibility of the climbers, who were all experienced outdoorsmen familiar with local wildlife. Their collective experience and confidence in what they saw made their account hard to dismiss, even though no physical evidence was left behind.

8. Eyewitness Accounts – Strength in Numbers

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence from the Provo Bigfoot sightings of 2012 is the sheer number of eyewitness testimonies. Throughout the year, hikers, campers, and locals all reported seeing similar creatures in different locations around Provo. While some reports were more detailed than others, the consistency of the descriptions—large, bipedal, covered in dark fur, and moving quickly—lent credibility to the sightings.

These testimonies might not hold the same weight as physical evidence, but they created a larger narrative suggesting that something unexplained was lurking in the forests around Provo. The proximity of the sightings to one another, as well as the concentration of reports within a short time frame, made it harder to dismiss them as mere coincidence.

The Verdict: Did Provo Have a Sasquatch in 2012?

While no concrete, indisputable evidence of Bigfoot was found in Provo during 2012, the combination of eyewitness reports, video footage, physical footprints, and strange howls contributed to a compelling case for Sasquatch activity in the area. For believers, this year stands as one of the most intriguing in recent memory, further solidifying Provo’s place on the map of Bigfoot hotspots.

Skeptics, on the other hand, argue that the evidence is circumstantial and could easily be explained by known animals, hoaxes, or misinterpretation. However, the sheer number of reports and the consistency between sightings make Provo’s 2012 Bigfoot encounters one of the more notable clusters of activity in Sasquatch lore.

Whether you’re a Bigfoot enthusiast or a cautious skeptic, the evidence from 2012 invites one important question: could something large, mysterious, and unknown be hiding in the forests around Provo? Only time will tell.

Video Link of the Bigfoot Sighting in Provo, 2012

Top 10 Sightings
1-The Patterson-Gimlin Film, 1967
2-Freeman Footage, 1994
3-Marble Mountain Sighting, 2000
4-The Skookum Cast, 2000