Old Man of the Lake

Old Man of the Lake is a roughly 30-foot (9 meters) tall hemlock log that has floated vertically in the waters of Crater Lake for over a century. The lower portion of the trunk extends about four feet above the water surface, while the rest remains submerged and preserved by the cold temperature of the lake.

Geologist Joseph Diller first noticed the floating trunk in 1896 during a scientific expedition to Crater Lake. Limnologists later documented its travels across the water, recording that it covered roughly 62 miles (100 kilometers) between July and October 1938.

Native Americans connect the lake's formation to a battle between Llao, god of the underworld, and Skell, god of the upper world.

The log drifts with wind and current and may appear at different points around the lake, so watch carefully from boats. The park service occasionally tracks its position to help visitors and researchers locate it.

The log sometimes moves quickly across the water, reaching speeds of up to nearly four miles (6 kilometers) per day. Its roots and branches broke off long ago, yet the smooth trunk remains remarkably well preserved by the cold water.