Sinks Canyon

Sinks Canyon SP https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/maps-sinks-canyon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinks_Canyon_State_Park Sinks Canyon State Park is located in the Wind River Mountains, 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of Lander, Wyoming, on Wyoming Highway 131. The state park is named for a portion of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River where it flows into an underground limestone cavern, named "the Sinks," and emerges a quarter-mile down the canyon in a pool named "the Rise."

W WYOPARKS.STATE.WY.US YOPARKS.STATE.W WYOPARKS.ORGY.US PARK FEES & PERMITS Peak Season (May 1 - Sept 30) Fees: Resident - $9, Non-Resident - $16 Off Season (Oct 1 - April 30) Fees: Resident - $6, Non-Resident - $11 Yurts are available for reservation at Sinks Canyon State Park. For more information or to make a reservation, visit: www.wyo-park.com or call 1-877-996-7275. THINGS TO DO AND SEE PARK RULES • Park dumpsters are for park use only. Litter must be disposed of in provided containers. • Keep motorized vehicles on designated roads and trails. A valid driver’s license is required. • All pets must be kept on a leash at all times. • Firearms and fireworks are not allowed. • Obey posted signs, traffic barriers and speed limits. • No glass containers • Camping in designated camping sites is restricted to one camping unit (tent, travel trailer or motor vehicle designed for camping) plus two licensed vehicles (car, boat or RV trailer) plus a maximum of 10 people (immediate family members, kids, grandparents, etc. of permit holder) may exceed this number. For a complete listing of park rules, visit park headquarters. Sinks Canyon State Park offers hiking trails, abundant wildlife viewing, bird-watching, fishing, and the Sinks and the Rise, a geological phenomenon. Wildlife, Flora and Fauna Sinks Canyon is the home to a myriad of wildlife, birds and plants. There are three major habitats in the canyon and each is unique. The most dramatic contrast in habitats is between the heavily forested north facing slope and the drier, sagebrush and juniper covered south facing slope. The third habitat is the Riparian zone along the Popo Agie River. All of these habitats make Sinks Canyon a rich place to observe nature. Surrounding National Forest and wilderness areas extend the opportunity to experience Wyoming’s beauty at its best. Remember, you are a visitor to the home of the Mule Deer, Marmot and Golden Eagle. Please respect the wildlife, observing them from a distance, and please leave the wildflowers for others to enjoy POPO AGIE The name Popo Agie (pronounced Po - Po - shuh) is a Crow Indian word, and most people believe it means “gurgling river” for the sound the water makes as it goes underground at the sinks. LOCATION Sinks Canyon State Park is administered by the Division of State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails; Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. 6/18 Sinks Canyon State Park is located six miles southwest of Lander on Hwy. 131. THE SINKS AND THE RISE Sinks Canyon is so named because of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie, a rushing mountain river that flows out of the Wind River Mountains and through the canyon. Halfway down the canyon, the river abruptly turns into a large limestone cavern, and the crashing water “sinks” into fissures and cracks at the back of the cave. The river is underground for 1/4 mile until it emerges down the canyon in a large calm pool called “The Rise,” which is filled with huge trout. The river then continues its course into the valley below. Where the water goes while it is underground is unknown. The Sinks narrow to small, unexplorable log and rock jammed fissures. The Sinks and Rise occur in the thick, easily eroded off-white Madison Limestone formation. For many years, it was unproven that the water flowing into the Sinks was the same water flowing out at the Rise. Dye tests have proven it is the same water but have revealed other mysteries; it takes the water flowing into the Sinks over two hours to reappear at the Rise. Geologists speculate that while underground the water circulates up and down and through many narrow, winding passages and pools until it resurfaces. It was also discovered that more water flows out at the Rise than goes in at the Sinks. For more information, visit the Sinks Canyon Visitor Center at the Sinks, open 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day in the summer. 6,200 ft. elevation GIE OA R P PO RIVE SINKS CANYON STATE PARK S Ris inks .25 e Tra to mi il, les The Rise OVERFLOW CHANNEL Popo Agie Campground Killer Cave Climbing Area 131 l rai n T oop o ny l Ca mile 4 rail re T u t a ie N loop Ag po 1 mile o P Shady Side Crag Climbing Area N Camping Climbing Area Dam Drinking Water Fishing Group Picnic Shelter Interpretive Trail Park Headquarters Phone Picnic Area Playground Restrooms Trail Viewing area 131 les mi 1.5 dle ← Mid alls to rk F Fo l rai eT p o l h S ile ort 1 m Boat ramp Trailer Sanitary Station 7,150 ft. elevation Visitor Information ← Hig 33 m hw iles ay 28 to IE AG O P ER PO RIV The Sinks & Visitor Center 6,750 ft. elevation Sinks Campground Bruces Picnic Area ADA Ballfield PHONE NUMBERS EMERGENCY ..................................................................... 911 Fremont County Sheriff .............................................. 332-5611 Park Headquarters ..................................................... 332-6333 Park visitor center ..............................................

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