Popo Agie Wilderness

This rough land features high, jagged peaks; deep, narrow valleys and canyons; sheer granite walls; cirque basins; talus slopes; and perennial snowfields. The area abuts the Continental Divide and encompasses 25 square miles of the southern Wind River Mountain Range. Along the western boundary, which the Popo Agie (pronounced "po-po-zsha") Wilderness shares with the Bridger Wilderness, stands Wind River Peak, at 13,255 feet the highest point in the area, and more than 20 other summits rise above 12,000 feet. The lowest elevation 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 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 eventually ending up in the Wind River. Forests of lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir grow here. The temperature rarely exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, but it may plunge to 40 below zero in the winter, and snow may fall any day of the year. During summer there are occasional heavy rains, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Many miles of trails attract a relatively large number of visitors, which has led to resource-protecting restrictions on camping and travel; check with the Washakie or Wind River Ranger Districts, in Lander and Dubois respectively, for the current rules.