Sinks Canyon State Park
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Sinks Canyon State Park is located in the Wind River Mountains, 6 miles SSW of Lander, Wyoming.
The canyon is named for the geological phenomenon of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River (pronounced "po PO' zha"), which "sinks" into a limestone cavern system. At "The Sinks," [1] [2] the river enters the cavern and travels underground for almost 1/2 mile, trickles out of the hillsides into a protected trout pool called "The Rise," and resumes the river's course. The exact route of the underground passage is unknown, and dye tests have shown the water to take over 2 hours to make the journey downhill.
The canyon was most likely formed during the Ice Age. The soft Madison Limestone Formation was carved by massive glacial movement and millions of gallons of water, leaving extensive underground fissures and steep cliff walls, and the gradual recession of the ice left glacial moraines along the canyon floor.
Located at The Sinks is an interpretive center with taxidermy mount exhibits and historical photographs, and The Rise has an observation deck where you can drop fish food to the large trout below.
The road that winds up Sinks Canyon, Highway 131, also called The Loop Road, becomes a series of switchbacks that lead to several high mountain lakes, and connects at South Pass City with US Highway 287, which "loops" back to Lander.
[edit] Popular activities in the canyon
Hiking and Camping: informal trails, formal nature trails, and trailheads into the Wind River Mountains, Popo Agie Wilderness, and Shoshone National Forest
Wildlife: native fauna includes porcupines, black bears, red squirrels, skunks, beaver, badgers, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mule deer, white-tail deer, moose, and, more rarely, mountain lions, Canadian lynx, bobcats and more
Birdwatching: golden eagles, cardinals, falcons, and dozens of other western birds
Picnicking: including several designated picnic areas and a shelter with barbecues
Fishing: river, fly fishing, from lakeshore or boat, the Popo Agie River, Frye Lake, Worthen Meadow Reservoir, Fiddlers Lake, Louis Lake
Rock Climbing and Bouldering: Sinks Canyon is considered one of the finest year-round climbing destinations in the USA. Cliff walls of Big Horn Dolomite and the unique micro-climate formed by the protection of the canyon walls allows for climbing even in winter months. Routes range in grade from 5.4 to 5.14a, and vary from 16 foot tall boulders to cliff faces several hundred feet high. There is also an annual non-competitive climbing event called The International Climber's Festival.
Winter Sports: snowmobilers and cross country skiers enjoy several months of amazing snow, and The Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail (CDST) runs 608 miles from Lander to West Yellowstone, Montana.
[edit] Trivia
Sinks Canyon was the original headquarters of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)[1], which has since moved into Lander.
Indigenous peoples knew of The Sinks for generations, and the Crow Indian name of the river, "Popo Agie," may relate to the gurgling sound of the water as it disappears into the ground.
The first white men to see the phenomenon were fur trappers in the early 1800s.
[edit] External links
Additional information is available from the Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, Sinks Canyon State Park website [2] and the Official Wyoming State Travel website [3]
The official state list of the common and scientific names of the birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles in Wyoming [4]
The International Climber's Festival website [5]
Pack it in, pack it out.
Leave only footprints, take only photographs.
