1. Lake Lanier, Georgia
Locals around Lake Lanier will tell you that the place has always felt a little off, especially at night. Many say they’ve heard voices drifting over the water when no one else is around, almost like someone calling out from beneath the surface. The lake was created by flooding entire communities, and some believe those displaced spirits never truly left. Fishermen have reported hearing their names whispered on foggy mornings. Others claim they’ve heard splashing or laughter with no boats in sight. Even long-time residents admit that the lake can go completely silent one second, then sound alive the next. It’s the kind of place where you instinctively look over your shoulder.
Plenty of people avoid swimming because of its eerie reputation. Some say they’ve felt cold hands tug at their legs underwater. A few boaters insist that they’ve heard full conversations when no one else was nearby. Even campsites along the shoreline have their stories, with people hearing footsteps or humming just after sunset. Locals tend to shrug and say, “That’s just Lake Lanier for you.” The strangeness is so common that new visitors often pick up on it immediately. Spend enough time there, and you might start hearing things yourself.
2. Lake Superior, Michigan
Lake Superior has a reputation for swallowing ships whole, and with that comes countless stories of voices riding in on the waves. Some claim they’ve heard distress calls echo across the water, especially near sites of old shipwrecks. Others swear they’ve heard whispers in languages they don’t recognize. On windy nights, the sound can feel eerily close, as if someone is trying to warn you. Even experienced sailors admit that the lake “talks” in ways they can’t explain. The vastness makes it easy to imagine unknown things lurking just out of view. It’s the kind of lake that demands respect.
People who camp along the shoreline describe hearing cries that rise and fall with the tide. Some have reported the sound of women singing faintly in the distance, only for it to vanish the moment they try to listen closely. A few claim the voices get stronger during storms, almost like the lake is restless. Divers who explore the wrecks say they’ve heard tapping or muffled voices underwater. Most chalk it up to the shifting currents, but not everyone is convinced. The stories are so persistent that even skeptics feel uneasy after dark.
3. Lake Ronkonkoma, New York
Lake Ronkonkoma has long been tied to a legend about a heartbroken Native American woman who drowned there, and ever since, people say they’ve heard her voice calling out. Some claim she whispers to swimmers, especially those who wander too far from shore. The lake has a reputation for sudden drownings, which only feeds the myth. Locals often talk about hearing faint singing at dusk. Fishermen have reported strange ripples appearing even when the water is calm. The atmosphere shifts quickly, going from peaceful to unsettling in seconds. It’s a place where the past feels close.
Visitors have said they’ve heard soft crying coming from the middle of the lake, even when no one is out there. Others describe hearing someone say “help me” just as the fog rolls in. Couples who walk along the shoreline after dark sometimes feel like they’re being followed by an unseen presence. Some residents insist the voice belongs to the “Lady of the Lake,” who wanders the area. Whether you believe the legend or not, the lake has a way of getting under your skin. Most people don’t linger after sundown.
4. Lake Champlain, Vermont
Lake Champlain is famous for its monster legend, but locals say the real chills come from the voices people hear late at night. Some boaters report hearing distant calls for help even when the lake is completely empty. Others say they’ve heard conversations carried across the water that stop abruptly, as if someone realized they were being listened to. The echoes bounce strangely between the mountains, making it impossible to tell where the sounds originate. Many long-time residents insist it’s been happening for generations. Even scientists studying the lake have noted unusual acoustic behavior. It’s hard not to wonder what’s really behind it.
Campers along the shore say the whispers start just after midnight. Some describe hearing what sounds like children laughing, only for the noise to vanish when they get closer to the water. Kayakers have reported hearing their names whispered from somewhere behind them. A few people have even claimed they heard singing coming from beneath their boats. Most shrug it off as wind, but something about the timing always feels too deliberate. The lake seems to have its own personality, and it doesn’t mind reminding you.
5. Deer Lake, Manitoba
Deer Lake sits in a remote part of Canada, and its isolation only adds to the stories locals share. Many say that on still nights, you can hear voices drifting across the water like a distant conversation. Some believe they’re the echoes of trappers or travelers who once passed through the area. Others think they’re spirits tied to old Indigenous legends. Hunters say they’ve heard someone call their name when no one else was around. The wilderness makes every sound feel magnified. It’s easy to get spooked when the forest goes silent.
People who stay in nearby cabins report waking to the sound of someone whispering just outside the window. Some have heard footsteps in the gravel but found no tracks in the morning. A few boaters claim they’ve heard chanting coming from the lake at dawn. The voices seem to fade the moment anyone tries to investigate. Locals tend to warn visitors not to wander too far alone. Even if you don’t believe in the supernatural, the lake’s atmosphere has a way of making you second-guess everything you hear.
6. Crater Lake, Oregon
Crater Lake is breathtaking, but it comes with more than its fair share of eerie stories. Many visitors have reported hearing faint voices while standing along the rim, especially near dusk. Some say the sounds come from deep within the crater, almost like someone calling from below. Hikers describe hearing whispers that seem to circle them before drifting away. The volcanic landscape amplifies echoes in strange ways. Even park rangers admit they’ve heard things they can’t explain. For all its beauty, the lake can feel hauntingly empty.
Kayakers have said they’ve heard murmuring from beneath their boats, even when the water is completely still. Others claim they’ve heard distant chanting from the surrounding cliffs. At night, the sound carries so clearly that some people have mistaken it for nearby groups of hikers. When they investigate, there’s no one around. The combination of silence and isolation makes the noises feel unsettlingly intimate. Crater Lake rewards visitors with unforgettable views, but it also leaves them with questions they can’t shake.
7. Loch Morar, Scotland
Loch Morar is known for its own lake monster folklore, but locals insist the voices are what truly unsettle them. Fishermen swear they’ve heard someone whispering to them while they worked alone on the water. Others have described hearing distant wailing that echoes off the hillsides. The loch’s depth makes it feel like anything could be hiding beneath the surface. Even longtime residents admit the place has a heavy, uncanny atmosphere. Stories of strange sounds date back centuries. People tend to keep their distance after dark.
Visitors walking the shoreline often report hearing soft murmurs that seem to follow them. Some hikers say they’ve heard their names spoken from somewhere behind, only to turn around and find no one there. Others describe hearing low humming that goes on for minutes at a time. Rowers have claimed they’ve heard tapping on the bottom of their boats, like someone trying to get their attention. While explanations range from wind to wildlife, not everyone buys it. The loch’s history only adds to its sense of mystery.
8. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Lake Tahoe is stunning by day, but it can feel downright eerie once the sun goes down. People have claimed to hear voices echoing across the lake during quiet evenings, especially near secluded coves. Some say they’ve heard full conversations that suddenly stop mid-sentence. Others describe hearing what sounds like chanting or humming in the distance. The lake’s vastness allows sound to travel in unusual ways, making it impossible to pinpoint the source. Even locals admit they’ve heard strange noises that defy explanation. Tahoe’s beauty and eeriness exist side by side.
Campers along the shoreline sometimes wake to the sound of someone calling out. A few report hearing laughter carried across the water, even when no boats were out. Some kayakers have claimed they’ve heard whispering coming from the surface beneath them. People who live near the lake say the odd sounds happen more often during foggy evenings. While many chalk it up to echoes or weather, others remain convinced there’s more to the story. Tahoe holds onto its secrets tightly.
9. Lake Crescent, Washington
Lake Crescent sits deep within Olympic National Park, and it has a haunting reputation that locals take seriously. People claim to hear crying or hushed voices near the water’s edge at night. Some say the sounds linger just long enough to make your skin crawl. Hikers have reported hearing whispers from the forest that border the lake. Others insist they’ve heard the sound of someone softly calling their name. The dense trees and still water create a natural amplifier for eerie noises. Even the fog seems to behave strangely here.
Visitors who stay in the nearby lodge sometimes wake to the sound of footsteps in the hallway, only to realize no one else is up. Boaters have described hearing low, mournful tones drifting across the water like a distant song. Some travelers say the lake feels charged, almost alive. The cold, crystal-clear water only adds to the unsettling feeling. Locals tend to avoid the shoreline after sunset. Whatever is going on at Lake Crescent, people agree it leaves a lasting impression.
10. Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona
Lake Mead may be known for its reservoir issues, but locals have plenty of eerie stories to share. As water levels have dropped, people have reported hearing strange sounds echoing off the exposed rocks. Some claim they’ve heard deep voices that seem to rise from the canyon itself. Boaters have described hearing muffled conversations with no one else in sight. The shifting landscape makes every sound feel amplified. Even fishermen admit they’ve been spooked while out on early-morning trips. It’s a place that feels more mysterious every year.
Visitors who explore the coves say the echoes can sound eerily human. Some people report hearing someone call out as if they’re lost or searching for help. Others have heard humming that continues even when the wind is still. Kayakers say the sound feels like it’s coming from right beside them. A few hikers claim they’ve heard voices bouncing off the cliffs at twilight. While many explain it away as acoustics, not everyone is so sure. The lake’s changing shape seems to reveal more than just dry land.
11. Lake Minnewanka, Alberta
Lake Minnewanka is beautiful but carries a long history, and locals say the voices tie back to the Indigenous communities once displaced from the area. Visitors have reported hearing soft chanting near the shoreline at dawn. Others say they’ve heard murmured conversations when the lake is otherwise silent. Some boaters claim they’ve heard someone call out from the middle of the lake, even when the water is empty. The surrounding mountains create a natural echo chamber. The atmosphere is peaceful by day but takes a sharp turn after sunset.
Campers nearby have described waking up to the sound of footsteps around their tents. Some hikers say they’ve heard faint singing echo across the water. Kayakers have reported the unsettling experience of hearing whispering right behind them. Others claim the voices stop abruptly when they try to follow the sound. Locals say the lake holds memories of the past that occasionally rise to the surface. Whether or not you believe the stories, the place has a presence that’s hard to ignore.
12. Flathead Lake, Montana
Flathead Lake is known for its beauty, but Native legend and local stories give it an eerie edge. Many people claim they’ve heard unexplained voices while boating early in the morning. Fishermen have described hearing someone call their name from somewhere behind them. Others say they’ve heard splashing or thrashing that stops the moment they look. The lake’s depth and clarity make it feel like something could be watching from below. Even those who’ve lived there for decades say the sounds never get less strange.
Campers along the shore report hearing strange chatter late at night. Some visitors claim they’ve heard children laughing near the water when no one is around. Kayakers say the voices sometimes echo as if coming from underwater. Others describe hearing quiet humming that moves from one side of the lake to the other. Many people shrug it off as wind, but the timing always seems too deliberate. Flathead has a way of sticking with you, long after you’ve left.
13. Lake George, New York
Lake George is a popular vacation spot, but it also has a surprisingly spooky side. Locals claim to hear voices on foggy mornings, especially around older parts of the shoreline. Some say they’ve heard someone whispering right beside them when no one was there. Others describe hearing humming or quiet singing drifting over the surface. The lake’s Revolutionary War history only fuels the ghost stories. Even seasoned boaters admit they’ve been rattled by unexplained sounds. Lake George might look peaceful, but it has layers of mystery beneath the calm.
People staying in lakeside cabins have woken to strange knocking or footsteps outside. Some visitors claim they’ve heard men shouting commands as if from an old battlefield. Others have heard laughter that seems to appear and vanish out of nowhere. Kayakers say the echoes carry in ways that feel uncanny. Locals are used to the strange noises but rarely stay out late to test them. If you listen long enough, you might hear something you can’t explain.