Popo Agie Wilderness, Nature reserve in Sublette County, United States.
Popo Agie Wilderness is a protected reserve in Shoshone National Forest containing granite peaks, alpine lakes, and thick forests across approximately 101,870 acres (41,200 hectares). The terrain transitions through different ecosystems as elevation changes, creating varied habitats throughout the area.
The area gained official wilderness designation in 1984 through the Wyoming Wilderness Act after being classified as a primitive area in 1932. This protection recognized the need to preserve the land from development and resource extraction.
The name Popo Agie derives from a Crow word for the river, and the wilderness lies east of the continental divide in the Wind River Range. Access from the north crosses the Wind River Indian Reservation, where a permit is required before entering. The nearest town is Lander, Wyoming.
Visitors need permits for activities like camping and fishing, and motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited throughout the area. Access requires hiking in on foot, and you should prepare for changing weather and remote conditions.
The Cirque of the Towers, a ring of granitic peaks and sheer cliffs in the southern Wind River Range, draws climbers from around the world and is likely the most visited spot in the wilderness. Heavy use has led to camping restrictions, especially near Lonesome Lake. Access from the north through the Wind River Indian Reservation requires a permit obtained in advance.
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