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.

Mammoth Hot Springs is a unique cluster of natural attractions situated at the northernmost entrance of Yellowstone National Park, just outside Gardiner, Montana. This remarkable site is celebrated for its striking travertine formations, which arise from the accumulation of mineral deposits over time. The pools within Mammoth Hot Springs are home to various species of thermophilic bacteria that thrive in the warm waters, imparting a distinctive brownish and reddish hue to the surroundings.

Nicknamed “America’s Serengeti,” the Lamar Valley is Yellowstone’s premier wildlife viewing destination. This sweeping grassland, carved by ancient glaciers and the meandering Lamar River, provides a vital habitat for the park’s most iconic species. Visitors can observe vast herds of bison, packs of wolves, grizzly bears, elk, pronghorn, and countless birds from the comfort of their vehicle or roadside pullouts. Dawn and dusk offer particularly magical moments when the valley comes alive with animal activity. 

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.