Sinks Canyon State Park

Sinks Canyon State park is located south of Lander. 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. 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. It's kinda like the mystery of the socks in the dryer. You know how a sock will disappear seemingly forever until the day after you throw the odd sock away? Then you have to throw away the newly discovered missing sock, too. 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. The name Popo Agie 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.

This is the path that we had to walk down and then back up to get to the water below. Doesn't look like much of a "path" does it?

Unfortunately, Joe slipped down and fell on his butt on one of these rocks and is suffering a very sore derriere today.

This was the wonderful toilet facilities available for use. I have learned out here though when traveling, to take advantage of any restroom facilities you come across as there may not be any when you need them!