Sinks Canyon State Park

The Popo Agie (pronounced "po PO zha") River at Sinks Canyon State Park.

Sinks Canyon State Park is internationally renowned as a rockclimbing destination.

One of the most intriguing sites in the Wyoming parks system, Sinks Canyon has been blessed with an abundance of geologic wonders.

The Sinks are the place where the Popo Agie (pronounced po-PO-zha) River drops out of view into the limestone canyon floor and re-emerges a half-mile away at the Rise.

What's more intriguing is that dye tests have shown that the water stays underground much longer than warranted by the distance between the Sinks and the Rise. When it does resurface, it is warmer and there is more of it.

Geologists speculate that an underground aquifer and labyrinthine channels cause these phenomena.

The Rise is accessible to hikers and wheelchair users. The pool's population of extra-large trout is another attraction, but they're for viewing only. Anglers can try for brown and rainbow trout elsewhere in the park.

Sinks Canyon is also internationally acclaimed as a rock climbing destination. Its sheer 1,000-foot limestone cliffs challenge the very best climbers, with sites rating 5.13 on a scale of difficulty that tops out at 5.14. South-facing slopes allow climbing year-round, and the nearby highway makes access easy.

The park, with three distinct habitat systems, is a fine wildlife-watching destination. Of particular interest is a herd of bighorn sheep, re-introduced in the early 1980s. Other game animals that winter in the canyon are moose and mule deer.

The birdwatching is excellent, with native species, game birds, waterfowl and neo-tropical migrants in attendance.

The park has two short nature trails and a 6.2-mile Volksmarch trail. The latter trail continues into the adjacent Shoshone National Forest, which offers hundreds of additional trail miles.

Ancient Native American petroglyphs interest archaeology buffs.

Thirty campsites are divided between two campgrounds.