Sinks Canyon State Park

Sinks Canyon State Park
Wyoming State Park
The Sinks of the Popo Agie River
Country  United States
State  Wyoming
County Fremont
Location Lander
 - elevation 6,854 ft (2,089 m) [1]
 - coordinates 42°45′00″N 108°48′24″W / 42.75°N 108.806667°W / 42.75; -108.806667Coordinates: 42°45′00″N 108°48′24″W / 42.75°N 108.806667°W / 42.75; -108.806667
Area 600 acres (243 ha)
Established Unspecified
Management Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites
IUCN category V - Protected Landscape/Seascape
Location in Wyoming
Website: Sinks Canyon State Park

Sinks Canyon State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located in the Wind River Mountains, 6 miles 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 1/4 mile down the canyon in a pool named "the Rise."[2]

The exact route of the passage is unknown, and dye tests have shown that the water takes over 2 hours to make its 1/4-mile underground journey. Additionally, more water flows from the Rise than enters the cavern at the Sink. The Crow Indian name of the river, "Popo Agie" (pronounced po-PO-shuh), is taken to mean "gurgling river."[3]

Geology

The Madison Limestone Formation was carved by glacial movement, leaving extensive underground fissures and steep cliff walls. The gradual recession of the ice left glacial moraines along the canyon floor.

Activities and amenities

A visitor's center is located at the Sinks, and an observation deck overlooks the Rise.[3] The park offers hiking trails and facilities for camping, picnicking, rock climbing, and fishing.[2]

Images

References

  1. ↑ "Sinks Canyon Campground". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. 1 2 "Sinks Canyon State Park". Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails. State of Wyoming. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Sinks Canyon State Park Brochure" (PDF). Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
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