Myths and Legends of Crater Lake

The magic that emanates from Crater Lake National Park is undeniable. Of course, as one of the oldest national parks in the United States, many experiences and stories have been shared over the years. However, some of the most fascinating storytelling regarding this natural wonder stems from the tales of Indigenous people who were there to witness its formation.

Crater Lake is considered a sacred place to the Klamath Tribe. It is truly amazing to think of what it may have been like to experience the collapse of Mt. Mazama nearly 8,000 years ago. Evidence exists of ancient peoples who bore witness to the event through the stories passed down over generations, as well as artifacts retrieved from beneath layers of ash.

One of my favorite legends is that of the spirit Llao, of the underworld, who emerged from the volcano and fell in love with a native woman. When her father, the chief, gave word that she did not want to marry Llao, the spirit became furious and began scorching the forests surrounding the mountain, forcing the Klamath people to wade into Upper Klamath Lake to escape. Depending on which version is told, Llao was defeated by either Gmo’Kam’c (the Creator) or Skell, a spirit living in nearby Mount Shasta, who was also in love with the woman and/or pitied the humans. After Llao was defeated, it is said that blue water came rushing up out of the ground. The Klamath people called the lake Giiwas, and the area now known as Crater Lake became a sacred place.

A favorite modern-day legend of the park is that of the Old Man in the Lake, an ancient hemlock tree that has been floating around the pristine body of water for 100 years. You can hear the stories of the creation of Crater Lake, ghost stories of supernatural events surrounding Wizard Island, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of the Old Man in the Lake on our full or half day tours to this very special place.

Phantom Ship as seen from Sun Notch