Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Spring Creek was named for the several small cold springs that flow out from beneath the
rhyolite along its course. The downside of having so many springs is that parts of the trail are
marshy, while the upside is that wildflowers thrive here. On the east side of a 20-foot-high (6
m) rock located partway down the trail is a turtle shape engraved by natural forces. The rock
has always been called Turtle Rock and was the site of the successful stagecoach robbery de-
scribed above. The trail could be highly recommended were it not so difficult to get through
the narrow part of the canyon at Turtle Rock and to traverse the marshy areas near the trail's
bottom.
he steep
Divide Lookout Trail
goes to the site of a former fire tower about 2.5 miles (4
km) south of the road and nearly 8,800 feet (2,680 m) above sea level.
Along the road between here and Isa Lake, as well as east of the lake, you can spot beautiful
patches of altered rhyolite in some of the road cuts and hillsides. There are many colors:
cream, yellow, orange, salmon pink, red, dark brown. At some time in the past, hot water and
gases altered the minerals in these rocks, creating the colors.
Water lilies cover Isa Lake in midsummer.
9.3/10.1 Isa Lake
has parking space at both ends, 0.2 mile apart. The lake was named in
1893 for a Cincinnati tourist, Isabel Jelke, but was sometimes called Two Ocean Lake because
of its location. It's directly on the Continental Divide at 8,262 feet (2518 m).
The flow directions from the two ends of this lake are the opposite of what you'd expect.
The seeming paradox will become clear to you with a look at the map and explanation in
“Understanding the Continental Divide.”
Understanding the Continental Divide
Driving between Old Faithful and West Thumb, you twice pass signs identifying the
Continental Divide. This makes it difficult to understand the concept of a
drainage divide
