Typically, state parks are places for relaxation and lighthearted fun. One state park in Wyoming, however, has the shadow of tragedy darkening its history. You’ll find Lake DeSmet in Wyoming near the base of the Bighorn Mountains, and although pioneers and travelers through the area came across it as early as the 1840s, Native Americans have known about it for generations. With a history of eerie incidents, the lake is the setting of an Indian legend that will give you chills.

Lake De Smet can be found in the wilderness in the northern part of Wyoming.
misty_bee_Wyo/TripAdvisor
The lake was named for Father Pierre Jean De Smet, the Jesuit priest who is credited with being the first white man to set eyes on the lake. He was accompanying fur trappers through the area at the time.
The lake is beautiful by day, but stories have abounded for centuries about the spooky things that go on there when the sun goes down and the sky and lake are dark at night.
bd W/TripAdvisor
Wyoming folklore tells tales of a Loch Ness-type creature that supposedly lives in Lake De Smet, swimmers have been reported to disappear beneath the water never to surface again, animals become frightened and won't go near certain areas of the lake, and it's said that unnatural noises can be heard there at night.
One Native American legend tells the tale of a tribe of Indians that set up camp on the shore of Lake De Smet.
Edward S. Curtis/Library of Congres

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Little Moon, a young warrior from the tribe, made plans with his sweetheart, Star Dust, to meet at the edge of the lake under cover of night after everyone else was asleep.
misty_bee_Wyo/Tripadvisor
Little Moon arrived early and sat looking over the lake as he waited for Star Dust. He noticed an odd bank of mist hovering over the lake and, as he watched, it formed into the face of a beautiful maiden who smiled at the young brave and beckoned to him. Little Moon was so entranced with the beautiful woman in the mist, he barely noticed Star Dust when she walked up beside him.
misty_bee_Wyo/Tripadvisor
The apparition had Little Moon so spell-bound that he angrily shoved Star Dust Away when she tried to place her arms around him in greeting. When the young man turned back to the lake, the vision of the woman was gone.
When dawn broke the next morning, Star Dust's body was found, drowned in the waters of the lake. It's believed that she plunged herself into Lake De Smet, overcome by grief from her lover's rejection.
misty_bee_Wyo/Tripadvisor
As retribution, Star Dust's father had Little Moon tied to a rock near the place where the girl's body had been found. He was left there at the mercy of the lake, the weather, and wild animals.
It's said that, even today, moaning sounds can be heard at the lake at night, and that they're the anguished keening of Little Moon.
Kat B./Flickr

Check out this gorgeous video of the lake at sunset, it’s hard to believe it has such a dark history with all of its beauty.

Have you visited Lake De Smet in Wyoming after dark? Did you see the mysterious spirit over the water or hear Little Moon’s haunting cries? What are your picks for the creepiest places in Wyoming? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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Lake De Smet in Wyoming

Tori Jane | June 26, 2022

Where is Lake DeSmet in Wyoming and how large is it?  

Lake De Smet is a gorgeous lake in northern Wyoming that consists of 3,400 gorgeous surface acres of crisp, clear water. At its deepest, Lake De Smet is 120 feet deep and it serves as a reservoir for Johnson County. It’s a relatively new body of water, having been set up in 2013 by Johnson County Commissioners. It’s an excellent place for swimming, fishing, boating, and other popular water-based activities, and during the summer months, it can become quite lively thanks to tourism and locals wanting to get out and enjoy our beautiful state while the weather is good for it. Anyone who knows anything about Wyoming knows it doesn't offer the friendliest climate in the winter. 

What is the most popular lake in Wyoming?  

Wyoming is home to a plethora of natural wonders, including some of the most beautiful lakes in the United States. It’s well-known for its breathtaking places like Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons, and those locales come with lakes so beautiful you might feel like you’re in a movie instead of Wyoming! The most popular lakes for visitors and locals alike include gorgeous Wyoming gems like:

  • Jackson Lake, in Teton County
  • Yellowstone Lake, also in Teton County
  • Jenny Lake, found in – you guessed it – Teton County

 

Of course, there are amazing lakes in Wyoming almost no matter where you turn, so no matter what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find something breathtaking.  

What are some scary stories in Wyoming to tell around a campfire? 

Wyoming is an overwhelmingly beautiful state with a lot to do, see, and experience – and some of it extends into the realm of the spooky. Some notable scary stories of Wyoming – local legends, if you will – include that of the “little people” said to roam the land and attack Native tribes way back when. It was thought that these little people were nothing but a myth until some suspiciously small mummies were found while blasting the San Pedro Mountains. Then, there’s the legend of the ghost ship on the Platte River, a “ship of death” that creeps along the water’s edge on misty, foggy evenings and, should you see it, you ought to begin planning your funeral, for they say anyone who sees the ghost ship will die shortly thereafter.  

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Lake De Smet, Wyoming 82834, USA