Sinks Canyon

Sinks Canyon is located just outside of Lander. The Sinks and Rise of the Popo Agie river is pretty amazing, where else does a river completely disappear under ground and then reappear. After flowing into the cavern called the Sinks, the water flows

underground following an unknown path. “Geologists speculate the water travels through many cracks and fissures created in the water-soluble limestone until it rises to the surface in the calm pool” of the Rise a quarter of a mile downstream.

I’ve been here many times before but never in the winter or early spring when the snow and ice prevents you from walking right up to the opening, where the river rushes underground. Standing there at the opening of the limestone cavern called the Sinks, the river usually muffles out all other sounds as it disappears under ground but not this day. Today the snow and ice muffle the noise of the river and prevents me from getting closer. But none of its beauty is loss, just different, enhanced. Its calming to just listen to the flow of the river under the ice and the sense of stillness you perceive. So quiet and peaceful you don’t want to leave. Down stream from the Sinks is the Rise. I’m surprised to find it much like it usually is, I expected to find ice along the edges but the currents must

be strong enough to keep ice from forming even though the pool appears calm. The fish of course are there and as large as ever. They know they’re safe from anglers and food always magically appears from above. People just can’t resist feeding them, nor can I. But they’re so well fed the fish ignore the food I toss, but not the two mallards who frantically swim over to gobble it up.