Parker Canyon

A very scenic canyon - fantastic if done at the right flow. Some of the rappels can be slid or jumped (check depth first). Best done in the afternoon when the sun hits at an angle and lights up the canyon walls with a magical glow. Parker can be easily combined with Salome Jug by doing Salome Jug in the morning and Parker Canyon in the afternoon (taking A Cross Road). The waterflow checkpoint is 15 minutes into the approach when Pocket Creek enters on canyon left. Abort the descent if you see more water than the one depicted in the picture below. There is a USGS flow meter. The gauge is situated ~1.5 miles upstream on the other side of the 288 road prior to the confluence with Pocket Creek, which adds an appreciable amount of flow. Around 1.2 ft (or well under 1 CFS) on the gauge is typical and equates to low flow. Approaching 2 ft is high flow and 2+ ft is very high / extreme. Note: The CFS gauge is notoriously unreliable at higher flows and thus, for planning purposes, the recommendation is to reference the height gauge. Also, remember that this gauge is upstream of the Pocket Creek confluence which at high flow can easily add a few more CFS. The pictures below compare the conditions of the big rappel experienced at different dates and flow levels. Other notes:

4X4 road is rocky, rutted, and narrowly lined with brush. Expect some pin striping if you drive further than the bridge. Depending on road conditions, most factory off-road vehicles with high clearance should be capable of accessing the drop in/parking at 33.77992, -110.97539.

R1: 15' off single bolt canyon left. Slide on canyon left, or downclimb on canyon right. R2: 25' off single bolt canyon left. There's also an alternate anchor high canyon right (walk along the shelf and then look around the corner) if you wanted to rap outside the watercourse R3: 30’ off rock pinch set back canyon left. R4: 50’ off tree. Can be done as an overhang canyon left or directly in the water course. R5: 80’ off boulder. This rappel is very slick - use caution.