4. Paria Canyon, Arizona, United States

Not all great waves can be surfed.
 

 

The Paria River in northern Arizona carved its own smaller version of the Grand Canyon. Some of the rock formations, including The Wave, are just as spectacular.

Visitors need a permit from the Bureau of Land Management -- the permit for an overnight trek comes with a “human waste bag,” so if you want to visit this natural wonder, you'll have to prepare to pack your waste.

Fee: US$6 per person (and per dog) for day hiking and US$5 for overnight hiking.

The Paria Contact Station is 69 kilometers east of Kanab. You can hire a guide through the Bureau of Land Management -- see their website for a list of authorized guides: www.blm.gov