Wyomingites love to spend time outside, and it’s no wonder! There are geologic wonders around every corner in the Cowboy State. From the world’s largest mineral hot springs in Thermopolis, to the country’s first National Monument, Devil’s Tower, there’s so much to see here that you can’t find anywhere else. One such place is Sinks Canyon State Park, where you can hike along a river and enjoy the wilderness – until the river disappears into the ground.
Sinks Canyon State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area located in the Wind River Mountains, six miles southwest of Lander, WY. It 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.” The journey takes over 2 hours.
The park is 600 acres of pristine wilderness, established to help protect the Pogo Agie River.
Both the Sinks and the Rise have become the most popular attractions in the park. Schools of brown trout at the Rise can be fed by visitors, making for a fun experience with wildlife. Other species like moose, elk, big-horn sheep, mule deer, and even raptors can also be seen roaming the state park.
Rock climbing and caving are popular pursuits in the park, as are snowmobiling and ATV adventure. Bighorn dolomite’s outcrop and the many other climbing courses at the park make it a favourite for rock climbers worldwide, as it is simply one of the best places for rock climbing in America.
As for caving, the Sinks is not the only cavern open for exploration. Guests to the park can engage in a tour of Boulder Choke Cave from mid-August to mid-April and learn about the canyon’s history. Each tour to the multi-levelled cave can be tailored to suit visitors’ particular needs.