Parker Canyon 3CII, Arizona

Arizona has some excellent C-class (moving water) canyons as long as you catch them when they're flowing. Tucked into a beautiful region of Arizona, Parker Canyon delivers a scenic stab in the eye of geology and color. Two streams feed into Parker — we were nearing the end of the season but still got enough flow to make the canyon acoustics reverb with white noise. A few rappels dropped us deep into corridors where towering walls erected into a cavern-like spectacle.

Slides and small rappels opened us into a beautiful lush garden of greens and fiery red walls — nothing short of spectacular. Some rappels required a direct descent in the waterfall. Nature's water parks and warm sun make C-class canyons like this enjoyable enough to drive 6 hours from Vegas to experience. Next time I'll get here a bit earlier in the season. Stay classy, Arizona.