Because they are so unusually predictable, the Brown Mountain Lights have been heavily observed, photographed, researched, and studied over the years. Two studies were conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey–one in 1922 and one a few years earlier–while noted skeptics have gone to the mountain to observe the lights and attempt to explain them away.

While less spectral justifications offered include the reflection of automobile headlights or train lights or the always-reliable “swamp gas” explanation, those who are, perhaps, a bit more credulous point out that there are no swamps in the area, and reports of the lights predate the widespread use of automobiles and persisted during a massive flood which shut down all electricity–as well as auto and railroad traffic–in the valley below the ridge.

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Other possible naturalistic explanations for the lights include an unusual electrostatic discharge generated by a slowly-moving geological fault line which runs beneath the mountain. Whatever the true nature of their origins, the Brown Mountain Lights remain a potent and compelling attraction, drawing in spectators every year who come just to see the mysterious and eerie light show.

If you want to see the Brown Mountain Lights for yourself, there are a variety of places to view them from. Popular places to park and watch for the lights include the Blue Ridge Parkway between mile marker 301 and 310, as well as the Brown Mountain Overlook on Highway 181 and the peak of nearby Table Rock. If you’re planning a trip, locals say that the best time to see the lights is early on a dry, clear, and moonless night between September and November.

A Ghostly Glow in the Sky: What Are the Brown Mountain Lights?

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