Sinks Canyon State park is located 6 miles south of Lander on Highway 131. What are the Sinks and the Rise? Sinks Canyon is so named because the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie, a rushing mountain river, 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 canyon in a large calm pool called "The Rise" and 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. The amount of water flowing into the Sinks varies with the season. The average amount of water in the river is 150 cubic feet per second. During high water during spring run-off over 500 cubic feet of water per second roar down the rocky Popo Agie River channel.
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. The additional water may be coming from underground springs or other sinks formations in the area.
It is unknown exactly how old the Sinks are although they are likely an Ice Age feature thousands of years old. The massive glaciers that carved the canyon exposed the soft limestone and the millions of gallons of water from the melting ice helped erode the underground passages. Native Americans knew of the Sinks for generations. The first white men to see them were fur trappers in the early 1800s.
Remember you are a visitor to the home of the Bighorn Sheep, the Marmots, the Golden Eagles. Please respect the wildlife and only observe them from a distance. Please don't pick the wildflowers. Leave them for others to enjoy.
What Popo Agie means. The name Popo Agie (pronounced Po-Po-zsha) comes from the Crow Indians and means Tall Grass River. "Agie" means river in the Crow language and "PoPo" means tall grass or tall rye grass. The Crow named the river this because of the tall bunches of rye grass that grew along the banks of the river in the valley.
Rainbow Trout flourish in the Rise. The huge trout in the Rise are not stocked. They have arrived there naturally and stay because it is a protected area with an extensive food supply. The fish are mainly Rainbow Trout, though some are Browns. There is no fishing in the Rise, but visitors enjoy throwing fish food to the trout from the observation platform above the Rise.

Annual and
Current Events
11th Annual Speakers Series. Beginning mid-June, every Tuesday night through mid-August, the 10th Annual Speakers Series will be presented at the visitor center. Speakers will discuss various natural and cultural resource topics in the Lander area. The programs will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Accommodations
and Camping
Sinks Canyon State Park offers 30 camping sites. Many of these sites are located along the river amid jumbled granite boulders, lodgepole pine and aspens. Some of the sites are accessible to R.V's up to 40' long. Hiking trails are available across the river from Popo Agie Campground. A one mile loop and a four mile loop start at the suspension bridge in the upper end of the campground. Sawmill Campground at the mouth of the canyon offers five sites and a new handicap accessible site and fishing pier by the Popo Agie River.

Both campgrounds have drinking water and latrine type toilets. No hookups are available at either campground. All sites are available on a first come first serve basis. Camping is $4.00 per night and there are self registration canisters at both campgrounds

Things To Do
The Sinks Canyon State Park Visitors Center is open seven days a week 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. There are displays about the ecology, wildlife, and the history of Sinks Canyon including interactive displays and a "kids corner." "The Raptor tree," glacial geology, mounts of bison, elk, deer and bighorn sheep are some of the displays located in the visitors center.

Short interpretive hikes are available around the center. State Park employees are in the visitors center to answer questions. In addition, videos on the canyon, Wyoming's Wildlife, history, and other attractions are shown. The Visitors Center hosts the Sinks Canyon Speakers series throughout the summer. Weekly programs on wildlife, geology, history, and botany, are given by experts. Bighorn Sheep, bears, The Oregon Trail, canyon geology, Mushrooms and the Mountain Man, have all been topics in past programs. Call the Visitor Center for information on this summer's programs at (307) 332-3077.
Other things to do
Hiking • Birdwatching • Picnicking • Camping Fishing • Relaxing • Rock Climbing

Main Number - (307)332-6333
Fax Number - (307)332-6333
Closest Town - Lander
# of Camping Sites - 30
# of Group Picnic Shelters - 1
# of Picnic Areas - 30
Playgrounds - 1
# of Restrooms - 6
Public Telephone - No
Trails - Yes

Climbers Festival | Gold Rush Days Information on Lander
Lander Attractions
Microbrewery | Oregon Trail Pageant of the Old West
Sinks Canyon State Park
South Pass City