Perched atop Craig Pass at the Continental Divide, Isa Lake presents a fascinating hydrological oddity. This small lily pad-dotted lake is the only natural lake in the world that drains to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans – and it does so backwards. During spring runoff, its western side drains to the Atlantic via the Missouri-Mississippi Rivers, while its eastern waters flow to the Pacific through the Snake-Columbia Rivers, defying the expected continental drainage pattern.

Thundering 84 feet over a rocky cliff face, Gibbon Falls offers a dramatic roadside spectacle along the Grand Loop Road. This expansive waterfall, where the Gibbon River makes its dramatic descent, spreads like a white veil over ancient lava flows. Multiple observation points provide excellent views of the cascade as it tumbles through a rugged canyon. The convenient parking area and wheelchair-accessible viewing platform make this one of Yellowstone’s most easily accessible waterfalls.

Perched on the edge of Yellowstone Lake’s western shore, West Thumb Geyser Basin showcases a captivating collision of thermal features and lakeside scenery. Deep blue hot springs, including the mesmerizing Abyss Pool, steam alongside the lake’s waters, while nearby geysers paint the landscape with colorful bacterial mats. An accessible boardwalk weaves past historic Fishing Cone, where early park visitors once cooked their catch in its boiling waters. The dramatic Absaroka Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to this unique collection of lakeside thermal features.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone presents one of nature’s most spectacular displays, where the mighty Yellowstone River plunges over two massive waterfalls into a thousand-foot-deep gorge. The canyon’s golden walls, painted with splashes of pink, red, and white by ancient thermal activity, frame the legendary Lower and Upper Falls. The 308-foot Lower Falls thunders with particular majesty, while multiple viewpoints along both rims offer awe-inspiring perspectives of this magnificent landscape. Artist Point (Upper Fall) and Lookout Point (Lower Fall) provide especially dramatic views of this natural masterpiece.

This scenic two-mile, one-way drive follows the dramatic Firehole River as it cuts through steep canyon walls. A favorite spot for osprey nesting, the canyon offers excellent opportunities to watch these magnificent birds dive for fish in the tumbling waters below. The route features pullouts for wildlife viewing and leads to the hidden gem of Firehole Swimming Area, where warm springs meet cool river waters.

Welcome to Yellowstone’s most intriguing collection of thermal features, where mud pots bubble and churn like nature’s witches’ cauldrons. The Mud Volcano area showcases the park’s volatile underbelly through a series of gurgling mud pools, steam vents, and acidic hot springs. A short boardwalk loop leads visitors past features like Dragon’s Mouth Spring, where thunderous roaring accompanies waves of steam, and the ever-churning Mud Cauldron. The pervasive smell of sulfur adds to the otherworldly atmosphere.

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone’s most photographed thermal feature, is a natural masterpiece of stunning colors and immense scale. This massive hot spring, larger than a football field, displays brilliant rings of orange, yellow, and blue caused by heat-loving microorganisms. Steam dances across its surface while the deep blue center reaches temperatures near boiling. Boardwalks and an overlook platform offer breathtaking views of this rainbow-hued wonder, which appears to shimmer against the backdrop of white travertine terraces.

The world’s most famous geyser, Old Faithful erupts with remarkable predictability roughly every 90 minutes, sending a dramatic tower of scalding water up to 180 feet into the sky. This iconic spectacle, which lasts between 1.5 to 5 minutes, draws visitors from around the globe to experience nature’s timekeeping marvel. While waiting for the next show, explore the surrounding geyser basin’s network of boardwalks or visit the historic Old Faithful Inn, a masterpiece of rustic architecture.