Sinks Canyon State Park: Sinks to Rise Trail (Blog Hike #1135)

Trail: Sinks to Rise Trail
Hike Location: Sinks Canyon State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Lander, WY (42.74808, -108.80963)
Length: 0.9 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2026
Overview: An out-and-back on ADA-accessible trail to the sinks and rise of the Middle Popo Agie River.
Park Information: https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/places-to-go/sinks-canyon
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming August 24, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From Lander, take SR 131 southwest 7.6 miles to the Sinks Canyon State Park Visitor Center on the left.  Park in the parking lot beside the Visitor Center.

The hike: Located in southwest Wyoming on the east slope of the Continental Divide, Sinks Canyon is not the largest or deepest canyon in Wyoming, but it may be the most interesting and most mysterious.  As the Middle Popo Agie River (pronounced like puh-PO-zha) tumbles down through the canyon toward Lander, it disappears underground into a large cave-like opening.  About 0.25 miles downstream, it resurfaces at what appears to be a large cold water spring.  Yet dye tests have shown that the river's water takes over 2 hours to cover that 0.25 miles.  Further, more water comes up at the rise than goes down into the sink.  Thus, plenty happens in this canyon that is not apparent on the surface.

            The sinks and rise of the Middle Popo Agie River form the centerpieces of Sinks Canyon State Park, a 600-acre park in its namesake canyon that was established in 1971.  The small park offers 2 campgrounds with a total of 29 sites, 4 yurts, a picnic shelter, and several trails.  Many other campgrounds and trails sit in adjacent Shoshone National Forest, including fantastic Popo Agie Falls located further up Sinks Canyon.  This hike is the shortest trail that visits both the sinks and the rise.  Although the entire hike is on ADA-accessible paved trail, that trail sits at over 6200 feet in elevation, and the grade on the trail is gradual yet persistent.  Thus, this hike is not quite as easy as it may appear.

Sinks of the Middle Popo Agie River

            The sinks are located just upstream from the Visitor Center, so I recommend going there first.  Walk around the south side of the Visitor Center and climb some stairs to reach the overlook platform for the sinks.  The Middle Popo Agie River is a significant river, but the large cave opening eats up the river like the Cookie Monster eating a Nilla wafer.  You can also look to the right and see the river cascading down the canyon.  Take a few minutes and enjoy this scenic spot.

Starting the trail

            Next start the hike in earnest by picking up the concrete Sinks to Rise Trail as it heads northeast from the Visitor Center parking lot.  The trail heads downstream in a narrow corridor between the river's boulder-filled overflow channel on the right and SR 131 on the left.  A few pine trees dot the semi-arid grassy and shrubby landscape, but for the most part this will be a warm and sunny hike in the summer.

Hiking the Sinks to Rise Trail

            At 0.3 miles, the dirt North Slope Trail exits right to head upstream for the park's campground.  500 feet later, you cross SR 131 at a marked crosswalk.  After another 1000 feet, you reach the parking lot for the rise of the Middle Popo Agie River.  The overlook platform for the rise sits just beyond this parking lot.

Rise of the Middle Popo Agie River

Looking downstream from the rise

            From the platform, you are looking straight down on the rise, which looks like a large spring with huge boulders and sand bars.  The water is sufficiently clear that you can see rainbow and brown trout swimming in the rise; fishing is not allowed on this side of SR 131.  I also saw plenty of birds including a black-billed magpie near the rise.  The trail ends at the rise, and no other trails connect the sinks and the rise.  Thus, your only option is to retrace your steps 0.4 miles up the canyon to the Visitor Center to complete the hike.

Shoshone National Forest: Popo Agie Falls (Blog Hike #1134; Golden Staff Hike)

Trail: Middle Fork Trail
Hike Location: Shoshone National Forest
Geographic Location: southwest of Lander, WY (42.72936, -108.85758)
Length: 3.2 miles
Difficulty: 8/10 (Moderate/Difficult)
Date Hiked: September 2026
Overview: A persistent, sometimes rocky climb to impressive Popo Agie Falls.
Area Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/shoshone/recreation/popo-agie-wilderness
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 2028)

Directions to the trailhead: From Lander, take SR 131 southwest 9.7 miles to the signed Popo Agie Falls Trailhead on the left.  Park in this large paved lot.

The hike: Established in 1891 by an act of Congress, Shoshone National Forest is the oldest national forest in the United States.  Originally known as the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve, the forest protects almost 2.5 million acres in western Wyoming east and southeast of Yellowstone National Park.  The Continental Divide forms most of the forest's western boundary, and it separates Shoshone National Forest from adjacent Bridger-Teton National Forest: Shoshone consists of lands east of the Great Divide while Bridger-Teton consists of lands west of it.  The forest is named for the Shoshone people, who lived in this area for several thousand years and still live on the adjacent Wind River Indian Reservation.

            Shoshone National Forest's recreation options are almost endless, and the forest offers almost 1600 miles of trails.  The hike described here is located in the very southern end of the national forest, and it leads to impressive Popo Agie Falls.  Pronounced like puh-POE-zha, Popo Agie Falls is formed where the Middle Popo Agie River drops into scenic Sinks Canyon.  This hike forms a reasonable day hike to a fascinating and popular destination, and I had a great hike on the warm and sunny fall afternoon that I came here.

Trail sign at parking area

            From the trailhead parking lot, walk north across the road and cross the Middle Popo Agie River on a nice footbridge.  Immediately you reach a trail intersection at an information board.  The trail going right leads downstream to a picnic area, so you want to turn left to begin heading upstream with the river on your left and some cliffs uphill to your right.  The single-track dirt Middle Fork Trail is unmarked, but it is clear, wide, and easy to follow.

Hiking upstream

            The first part of the trail follows a power line corridor, and soon you see the cabins that this power line serves across the river to the left.  In general this hike is a gradual to moderate climb, but at 0.6 miles the trail descends briefly to come right alongside the river.  The riverside area has thick vegetation, and the river has plenty of boulders and cascades to entertain you.  This is the only point where the trail comes right beside the river, so pause a minute to enjoy this riverside area.

Middle Popo Agie River

            Next the trail exits the riparian area and re-enters the semi-arid area, which contains many cedar trees and sagebrush.  Also, the grade intensifies.  The total elevation gain is just under 800 feet over 1.6 miles, so the trail never stays too steep for too long.  This trail is also open to mountain bikes and equestrians, and I saw a lot of horse manure on this trail, which indicates heavy horse use.  I mostly passed other hikers on my hike.

Veins in the rock

            The climb continues, and between 1.3 and 1.4 miles you climb 2 short switchbacks that were built to bypass especially steep and rocky areas.  If you look up at the cliffs to the right in this section, you will see veins where volcanic lava oozed up through cracks in the existing rock.  Wyoming geology is very complicated, and canyons such as this one make great places to study it.

Trail splits

            Just past 1.4 miles, the trail splits.  As directed by a wooden sign, you need to angle left to head for Popo Agie Falls; the trail going right heads further upstream and deeper into the Popo Agie Wilderness.  While this area is too dry to make for great wildlife viewing, I saw a northern mockingbird in this area, and I drove past some elk and some free range cattle on my drive up Sinks Canyon to this trailhead.

Popo Agie Falls

Popo Agie Falls, top portion

Popo Agie Falls, bottom portion

Aspens dotting the hillside

            A final uphill push brings you to the ledge that offers a great survey of Popo Agie Falls, which consists of several drops. The top fall is further away and several hundred feet above you, while the bottom fall is only a few hundred feet away but below you.  Both falls have impressive height and water volume.  I came here on a Monday afternoon in late September when the aspen leaves were a brilliant yellow; they contrasted nicely with the grey rock, white water, and green pine trees.  The trail keeps going to the top of the falls, and you can go there if you have the time and energy.  There is no easy way to form a loop, so I turned around at the first viewpoint and retraced my steps to the parking lot to complete the hike.