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Popo Agie Wilderness

Three small lakes lie in the base of a barren alpine bowl, surrounded by gray rock and jagged ridges above.

Library image #957: Alpine terrain of the southern Wind River Range

Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Popo Agie Wilderness (map) in 1984 and it now has a total of 101,870 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Wyoming and is managed by the Forest Service. The Popo Agie Wilderness is bordered by the Bridger Wilderness to the west.

Description

This piece of land is one of the loveliest in Wyoming. So rich in wildlife, it definitely ranks among my favorites. Along the western boundary, which Popo Agie (pronounced "po-po-zsha") shares with Bridger Wilderness, stands Wind River Peak, at 13,255 feet the highest point in the area. More than 20 other summits rise above 12,000 feet. The lowest elevation in the Popo Agie is the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River at 8,400 feet on the eastern boundary. Bordering the north side is the Wind River Indian Reservation, outstanding country where visitors must first obtain a permit before entering.

More than 300 alpine and subalpine lakes and ponds, many filled with trout, send their waters down sparkling streams and over waterfalls to the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Popo Agie River and the South Fork of the Little Wind River. All the water eventually ends up in the Wind River. This rough land features high, jagged peaks; deep, narrow valleys and canyons; sheer granite walls; cirque basins; talus slopes; and perennial snowfields along its eastern side. The area, which abuts the Continental Divide, encompasses about 25 miles of the southern Wind River Mountain Range, with forests of lodgepole pine and Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir.

In a Smithsonian Institute report issued in 1879, it was said of the Wind River Mountains, "when a good Indian dies, he falls into a beautiful stream of bright, fresh water, and is carried to the pleasant grounds [of the Winds]. . . . " The temperature rarely exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but it may plunge to 40 below zero in the winter. Snow may fall any day of the year, and most of the precipitation is snow. There are occasional heavy rains in summer, and light afternoon thunderstorms are common.

Many miles of trails attract a relatively large number of visitors, which has led to a few restrictions on camping in some areas. Check with the district ranger. The Popo Agie Falls Trail quickly takes you into the silence of the Wilderness. Nearby Lander is the site of the international headquarters of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). In town you can find anything--major and minor--to outfit your Wilderness trip.

Planning to Visit the Popo Agie Wilderness?

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Popo Agie Wilderness.

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.