US State Urban Legends

Idaho Urban Legends

Every state has its traditional myths, urban legends, origin stories, and unique monsters that play a role in the history and lore of locals. Wrapped in ever-changing mythology, these stories travel from people to people and place to place; however, while many other states across the country reap tales of horror, ghosts, and savagery, Idaho's Native American roots clearly shine through our most popular tales. Hundreds of stories exist, but these are key to the formation of Idaho:

Coyote and the Seven Devils

The Seven Devils form a portion of the Idaho-Oregon border, as well as line our most treasured river canyon: Hells Canyon. The Nez Perce in particular had origin stories for nearly every feature of Idaho's diverse landscape - and the story of the Seven Devils is a unique one.

Many years ago, there were seven child-eating giant brothers who lived in the horizon. The people were terrified of these giants. They sent word to Coyote to help them defeat the giants and save their children. Coyote knew he couldn't battle seven giants at once, so he dug seven massive holes in the earth and filled them with boiling liquid. As the giants were traveling east to snatch more children, they tripped into the holes and were trapped. As they struggled to free themselves, they scattered the hot liquid for as far as the eye could see. Coyote was then able to transform the giants into stone, and he opened up a canyon at their feet to keep them from ever reaching the villages again.

Sharlie: A Payette Lake Legend

McCall's Sharlie - who was named via a newspaper contest in the 50s - is reported to be between 10 and 50 feet long, brownish-green, and travels in serpent-like waves, rising and falling out of the water. But this gentle beastie garners nothing but love from locals, who can't seem to recall an incident when Sharlie attacked any of the lakeside city's residents.