When someone visits Yellowstone National Park in winter, they might hear an eerie symphony of sound moving through the air and across the water of Yellowstone Lake. A fortunate few have heard it, but nobody’s been able to explain it.
It’s been described as everything from “ethereal organ music” to “the ringing of telegraph wires.” It’s the strangest and most inexplicable of the many unique noises in Yellowstone, and one that most visitors won’t ever hear.
“It’s mysterious, magical, and moving,” said Lifelong Yellowstone employee, enthusiast, and author Jeff Henry. “I couldn't describe it any better than that.”
Strange Symphony
Henry, who’s spent the last 48 years working as a winter keeper in Yellowstone, said he’s heard the “music” of Yellowstone Lake multiple times. He recalled one experience while he was working near the Lake Butte Overlook in early January.
“Because I was elevated above the lake, the sounds were especially clear,” he said. “If you're up in the air, the sound seems to rise. I spent probably two to three hours sitting on a rock listening that time.”
During another winter, Henry was living in a cabin at Lake Lodge, a short walk away from Lake Yellowstone. Once the sounds started, he dared to walk onto the ice-covered water.
“I could feel the vibrations through my boots into my feet as I walked around on the ice,” he said. “Again, I spent a long time on that outing because it was so unique and so darn cool.”
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