Bird's eye view of the campground

Popo Agie

Popo Agie Yurts

Sawmill

Bird's eye view of the park

Sinks Canyon State Park

The scenic Sinks Canyon is located near Lander, Wyoming, in the southern Wind
River Mountains. It provides a host of outdoor recreation opportunities
including three developed campgrounds, a picnic area, several hiking trails,
and a snowmobile/ATV trail leading up into the Shoshone National Forest.  
  
The canyon abounds with wildlife--mule deer, bighorn sheep, and wintering
moose and elk. Raptors nest in the canyon cliffs. The Middle Fork of the Popo
Agie provides great habitat for rainbow trout.  
  
Recreation opportunities include sightseeing, hiking, rock climbing, fishing,
picnicking, and hunting. Perhaps the most notable attraction is the Sinks
itself, from which the canyon takes its name. At the Sinks, the Popo Agie
River literally sinks underground and reappears several hundred yards below at
the appropriately-named Rise. One of the canyon's most popular attractions, a
large pool of huge trout, is found at the Rise. You can watch and feed the
fish, but fishing is not allowed there.  
  
Rock climbers come from around the world to hone their skills on the canyon's
sheer walls of Bighorn dolomite. The walls' southern exposure means they're
warmed by direct sunlight, providing year-round climbing opportunities. Three
hiking trails lead to the base of the cliffs.  
  
Much of the canyon is comprised of public lands, managed by the USDA Forest
Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and by the State of Wyoming at Sinks
Canyon State Park. Additional information is available at the Sinks Canyon
Visitor Center which is open from May through September.

The scenic Sinks Canyon is located near Lander, Wyoming, in the southern Wind River Mountains. It provides a host of outdoor recreation opportunities including three developed campgrounds, a picnic area, several hiking trails, and a snowmobile/ATV trail leading up into the Shoshone National Forest. 
 
The canyon abounds with wildlife--mule deer, bighorn sheep, and wintering moose and elk. Raptors nest in the canyon cliffs. The Middle Fork of the Popo Agie provides great habitat for rainbow trout. 
 
Recreation opportunities include sightseeing, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, picnicking, and hunting. Perhaps the most notable attraction is the Sinks itself, from which the canyon takes its name. At the Sinks, the Popo Agie River literally sinks underground and reappears several hundred yards below at the appropriately-named Rise. One of the canyon's most popular attractions, a large pool of huge trout, is found at the Rise. You can watch and feed the fish, but fishing is not allowed there. 
 
Rock climbers come from around the world to hone their skills on the canyon's sheer walls of Bighorn dolomite. The walls' southern exposure means they're warmed by direct sunlight, providing year-round climbing opportunities. Three hiking trails lead to the base of the cliffs. 
 
Much of the canyon is comprised of public lands, managed by the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and by the State of Wyoming at Sinks Canyon State Park. Additional information is available at the Sinks Canyon Visitor Center which is open from May through September.

Sinks Canyon

The Interpretive Center provides an educational wildlife experience that
highlights the local Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herd, the largest wintering
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herd in North America. There is a small fee for
admission to the Interpretive Center. The interpretive center has wheelchair-
accessible parking, restrooms, and interpretive exhibits. Motor-vehicle travel
is limited to a few roads through the bighorn sheep range.

The Interpretive Center provides an educational wildlife experience that highlights the local Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herd, the largest wintering Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herd in North America.  There is a small fee for admission to the Interpretive Center. The interpretive center has wheelchair-accessible parking, restrooms, and interpretive exhibits.   
 
Motor-vehicle travel is limited to a few roads through the bighorn sheep range.

National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center and Whiskey Mount

The Baldwin Creek Climbing Area has about 50 established rock climbs ranging
in difficulty from 5.11 to 5.14. The average difficulty of these climbs
exceeds those of two of the other popular rock climbing areas near Lander-
Sinks Canyon and Wild Iris. The rocks of interest to climbers make up the
middle member of the Bighorn dolomite, a geologic formation of Ordovician age.
The main body of the formation was deposited in a warm shallow sea between 470
and 450 million years ago. Dolomite is similar to limestone (calcium
carbonate) but is much richer in magnesium. Factors influencing sedimentation
were probably constant for a long time because the cliffs are very uniform in
composition, texture and color. They have few cracks or other flaws, and as a
result, they provide uniformly difficult rock climbing opportunities.

The Baldwin Creek Climbing Area has about 50 established rock climbs ranging in difficulty from 5.11 to 5.14. The average difficulty of these climbs exceeds those of two of the other popular rock climbing areas near Lander-Sinks Canyon and Wild Iris.
The rocks of interest to climbers make up the middle member of the Bighorn dolomite, a geologic formation of Ordovician age. The main body of the formation was deposited in a warm shallow sea between 470 and 450 million years ago. Dolomite is similar to limestone (calcium carbonate) but is much richer in magnesium. Factors influencing sedimentation were probably constant for a long time because the cliffs are very uniform in composition, texture and color. They have few cracks or other flaws, and as a result, they provide uniformly difficult rock climbing opportunities.

Baldwin Creek Climbing Area

The Shoshone River Pathway is a segment in a network of trails in and around
Cody, Wyoming. The Shoshone River Pathway (Stock Nature Trail) provides access
to 55 acres of Bureau of Reclamation withdrawn lands managed under a
Memorandum of Understanding by the city of Cody. Approximately 3/4 miles of
gravel surfaced trail winds through upland and riparian vegetation communities
along the scenic Shoshone River. On-site facilities include a restroom,
resting benches and interpretive signage. An abundance of wildlife, including
resident and migratory birds and large and small mammals can be viewed in the
area. The trail also provides access to blue ribbon trout fishing.

The Shoshone River Pathway is a segment in a network of trails in and around Cody, Wyoming.  The Shoshone River Pathway (Stock Nature Trail) provides access to 55 acres of Bureau of Reclamation withdrawn lands managed under a Memorandum of Understanding by the city of Cody.  Approximately 3/4 miles of gravel surfaced trail winds through upland and riparian vegetation communities along the scenic Shoshone River.  On-site facilities include a restroom, resting benches and interpretive signage.  An abundance of wildlife, including resident and migratory birds and large and small mammals can be viewed in the area.  The trail also provides access to blue ribbon trout fishing.

Shoshone River Pathway

Stop at the Red Canyon Overlook 24 miles south of Lander on Highway 28 to
enjoy one of the most scenic vistas in Wyoming. The canyon was formed some 60
million years ago during the uplift of the Wind River range to the west. As
the sedimentary rocks tilted, the more easily erodible rocks were removed by
the action of water, creating the canyon as it is seen today.  
  
The long, grass-covered slopes on the west side of the canyon are part of the
Permian Phosphoria formation, a marine deposit composed of limestone,
sandstone, dolomite, siltstone, bedded chert and phosphorite. The less-
resistant rocks above the chert were eroded.  
  
The bottom of the canyon and the lower 300 feet of the east side are eroded
into the Triassic Chugwater formation. This consists of brick red sandstone,
shale, and siltstone, and being less resistant to erosion, was removed from
the underlying Phosphoria chert. The bright red color of the Chugwater is due
to a great amount of oxidized iron between and on the grains of the rock. It
is this coloration that gives Red Canyon its name.  
  
Red Canyon Rim, which forms the east side of the valley, is comprised of
salmon-colored Jurassic Nugget sandstone. This sandstone was deposited during
regression of ancient seas. It represents tidal flat and beach sedimentation
and was cross-stratified during deposition on ancient back-beach sand dunes.

Stop at the Red Canyon Overlook 24 miles south of Lander on Highway 28 to enjoy one of the most scenic vistas in Wyoming. The canyon was formed some 60 million years ago during the uplift of the Wind River range to the west. As the sedimentary rocks tilted, the more easily erodible rocks were removed by the action of water, creating the canyon as it is seen today. 
The long, grass-covered slopes on the west side of the canyon are part of the Permian Phosphoria formation, a marine deposit composed of limestone, sandstone, dolomite, siltstone, bedded chert and phosphorite. The less-resistant rocks above the chert were eroded. 
The bottom of the canyon and the lower 300 feet of the east side are eroded into the Triassic Chugwater formation. This consists of brick red sandstone, shale, and siltstone, and being less resistant to erosion, was removed from the underlying Phosphoria chert. The bright red color of the Chugwater is due to a great amount of oxidized iron between and on the grains of the rock. It is this coloration that gives Red Canyon its name. 
 
Red Canyon Rim, which forms the east side of the valley, is comprised of salmon-colored Jurassic Nugget sandstone. This sandstone was deposited during regression of ancient seas. It represents tidal flat and beach sedimentation and was cross-stratified during deposition on ancient back-beach sand dunes.

Red Canyon Overlook

This 30-square-mile area was a focal point for the discovery of gold in 1842
and the resultant 1867 gold rush that settled this part of Wyoming. By 1868,
about 1,500 people lived in the District towns of South Pass and Atlantic
City, but by 1872 the boom was over and the area was all but abandoned. BLM
maintains 2 campgrounds and the ghost town of Miner's Delight in the area.
Other attractions in the vicinity are the South Pass City State Historic site,
the Wild Iris world-class rock-climbing site, remnants of five National
Historic Trails (the Continental Divide, Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California,
and Pony Express Trails), and a Volksmarch Trail.This area is near historic
trails. Please do not collect or damage these resources. There are a few
maintained BLM roads in the area and multiple two-track routes.

This 30-square-mile area was a focal point for the discovery of gold in 1842 and the resultant 1867 gold rush that settled this part of Wyoming. By 1868, about 1,500 people lived in the District towns of South Pass and Atlantic City, but by 1872 the boom was over and the area was all but abandoned. BLM maintains 2 campgrounds and the ghost town of Miner's Delight in the area. Other attractions in the vicinity are the South Pass City State Historic site, the Wild Iris world-class rock-climbing site, remnants of five National Historic Trails (the Continental Divide, Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California, and Pony Express Trails), and a Volksmarch Trail.This area is near historic trails. Please do not collect or damage these resources.

There are a few maintained BLM roads in the area and multiple two-track routes.

South Pass Historic Mining Area

In a beautiful spot near the Continental Divide in central Wyoming, Miner's
Delight is a silent witness to the heyday of Wyoming's gold mining era. One of
the state's earliest communities--gold was discovered there in 1868--the BLM-
managed ghost town yields important clues about the early history of Wyoming
and the gold mining culture. There is a rugged walking path through the site,
interpretive kiosk at the entrance, and interpretive panels within the site.
It is not ADA accessible.

In a beautiful spot near the Continental Divide in central Wyoming, Miner's Delight is a silent witness to the heyday of Wyoming's gold mining era. One of the state's earliest communities--gold was discovered there in 1868--the BLM-managed ghost town yields important clues about the early history of Wyoming and the gold mining culture. There is a rugged walking path through the site, interpretive kiosk at the entrance, and interpretive panels within the site. It is not ADA accessible.

Abandoned cabins stand on a mountain side as visitors tour the site.

Miner's Delight

This area is rich in 19th century mining history. Travel graveled roads to
Atlantic City, South Pass City State Historic Site, the ghost town of Miner's
Delight, or ride along two-track roads through stands of pine and aspen.  
  
The many possible rides in the area include the 11-mile Ft. Stambaugh Loop
Road (BLM 2324), including Miner's Delight, and all day rides taking in
Atlantic City and South Pass City State Historic Site. You can view various
wildlife along the way, including pronghorn, deer, elk, moose and raptors.  
  
HISTORY  
  
During the 1800s, Wyoming became the focus for American expansion into the
trans-Mississippi west. Robert Stuart’s discovery of South Pass in October
1812 gave hope that a practical overland route to the Pacific (the route Lewis
and Clark searched for but failed to find) did exist.  
  
By 1824, South Pass was in annual use by mountain men and trappers engaged in
the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade. Soon trappers discovered connections that linked
South Pass with the Snake and Columbia rivers and with the Hudson’s Bay
Company holdings of the Pacific Northwest.  
  
Some 150,000 pioneers went west between the years of 1849 and 1852. By the
mid-1850s, stage coaches and freight wagons were regular users of the
California, Mormon Pioneer and Oregon trails, rolling both east and west
through South Pass. For 19 months in 1860-61, the riders of the Pony Express
transcontinental mail service thundered through the pass on an incredible
schedule covering 2,000 miles from St. Joseph, Missouri, to San Francisco,
California, in 10 days or less.  
  
Historians estimate that some 500,000 pioneers “went westering” along the
South Pass trail system before the great overland wagon train migrations
slowed down with the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869.
About 80,000 were headed for the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Some 70,000
Mormons had the Great Salt Lake region as their destination. Most of the
remaining 350,000 were bound for California with just a few headed for
intermediate destinations. Of those that started the journey, one in 10 would
not complete it. Thousands would die along the way, mostly from accidents,
cholera and other diseases. Some would simply get to their destination and
turn back.

This area is rich in 19th century mining history. Travel graveled roads to Atlantic City, South Pass City State Historic Site, the ghost town of Miner's Delight, or ride along two-track roads through stands of pine and aspen. The many possible rides in the area include the 11-mile Ft. Stambaugh Loop Road (BLM 2324), including Miner's Delight, and all day rides taking in Atlantic City and South Pass City State Historic Site. You can view various wildlife along the way, including pronghorn, deer, elk, moose and raptors. HISTORY During the 1800s, Wyoming became the focus for American expansion into the trans-Mississippi west. Robert Stuart’s discovery of South Pass in October 1812 gave hope that a practical overland route to the Pacific (the route Lewis and Clark searched for but failed to find) did exist. By 1824, South Pass was in annual use by mountain men and trappers engaged in the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade. Soon trappers discovered connections that linked South Pass with the Snake and Columbia rivers and with the Hudson’s Bay Company holdings of the Pacific Northwest. Some 150,000 pioneers went west between the years of 1849 and 1852. By the mid-1850s, stage coaches and freight wagons were regular users of the California, Mormon Pioneer and Oregon trails, rolling both east and west through South Pass. For 19 months in 1860-61, the riders of the Pony Express transcontinental mail service thundered through the pass on an incredible schedule covering 2,000 miles from St. Joseph, Missouri, to San Francisco, California, in 10 days or less. Historians estimate that some 500,000 pioneers “went westering” along the South Pass trail system before the great overland wagon train migrations slowed down with the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. About 80,000 were headed for the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Some 70,000 Mormons had the Great Salt Lake region as their destination. Most of the remaining 350,000 were bound for California with just a few headed for intermediate destinations. Of those that started the journey, one in 10 would not complete it. Thousands would die along the way, mostly from accidents, cholera and other diseases. Some would simply get to their destination and turn back.

Atlantic City/South Pass

The Sweetwater River is located along the base of the Wind River range. It has
been found to meet criteria as a "Wild and Scenic River". Sections have been
identified as Wild, Scenic or Recreational in nature, allowing recreation
experiences for many different visitors. This is a fee-free site. Some of the
recreation opportunities are ADA accessible.

The Sweetwater River is located along the base of the Wind River range.  It has been found to meet criteria as a "Wild and Scenic River".  Sections have been identified as Wild, Scenic or Recreational in nature, allowing recreation experiences for many different visitors.  This is a fee-free site.  Some of the recreation opportunities are ADA accessible.