As the saying goes, “it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ but a matter of ‘when.’” In this case, the “when” was the summer of 2009, when the powers-that-be at Microsoft thought it would be a fabulous idea to include a photo of The Wave in Paria Canyon, Arizona on the desktop wallpaper of Windows 7.[1] From that moment on, what had until then been a relatively well-kept secret among hikers and backpackers was catapulted to “Arizona Bucket List” status, and suddenly everybody and his brother wanted to go there. Does that include you? Be ready to jump through some hoops, but be ready to experience a place like no other on Earth, and an adventure you’ll never forget!
The Wave is located in the Coyote Buttes North Special Management Area of the Paria Canyon/Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area in Northern Arizona. Areas with this designation are considered ecologically sensitive and vulnerable to irreparable damage if access to them is not strictly controlled. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, for years, only 20 lucky people per day were allowed to visit Coyote Buttes North and The Wave in Arizona. In February 2021, the BLM approved an increase in the daily hiker quota to 64 people, or 16 groups, whichever comes first. In order to be included in that number, you must obtain a permit. This can be done one of two ways:
1. Apply in advance for the online Paria Canyon permit lottery through Recreation.gov website. Forty-eight (48) spots per day are given out in this manner. You can – and should – apply up to four (4) months in advance for your desired date. Applications are taken for the entire calendar month for the month four (4) months ahead. If, for example, you wish to hike to The Wave in October (the 10th month on the calendar), you would need to apply online anytime during the month of June (the 6th month on the calendar). The winners of the lottery would then be drawn on the 1st day of July, etc.
For more information regarding the Wave go to www.thewaveaz.com
There is a $9.00 non-refundable fee to apply for the online lottery. You may choose three (3) different dates to hike The Wave and apply for up to six (6) people. Applicants are notified of their results in the lottery by e-mail on the first day of the month following the application period. If, for some reason, you are not notified by the second day of the month, please contact the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument Permit Desk. Be sure to check your spam/junk mail folder first, though. Only one application may be submitted per month. Please do not try to “game the system” by submitting more than one application per month. You will be found out and both applications will be forfeited.
2. Obtain an in-person permit through a daily virtual lottery. Read a first-hand account from someone who hiked The Wave on a walk-in permit.
64 people a day are allowed to hike to Coyote Buttes North and The Wave. 48 will have secured their permits ahead of time by online lottery; the remaining 16 hiking slots can be acquired by in-person/walk-in permit. **Effective March 2022, the lottery for last-minute hiking permits to the Wave will transition to an app-based system, administered by Recreation.gov, whereby visitors may apply for a permit to hike the Wave from their cell phone or other mobile device two days prior to when they wish to hike. Entries will be monitored through a geofence system which limits participation to those physically present within a designated radius around the communities of Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT. Geofence Perimeter Map Successful applicants would then be notified by text to pick up their permits and attend a mandatory safety briefing at the Page-Lake Powell Tourism Hub in Page, AZ, or the Kane County Visitor Center & Office of Tourism in Kanab, UT. Fact Sheet for New Mobile-Based Wave Permit Lottery
General Notes:
For more information regarding the Wave go to www.thewaveaz.com
214 Responses
Hi I didn’t see anyone ask this question but I’m assuming only one application for permit per group is allowed? Meaning if there are 3 of us only one should apply for the group or can all 3 of us submit applications? Thank you!
Hi Shirley,
Yes, you have interpreted the rules correctly 🙂 When you apply for a hiking permit, you have the option to submit several desired dates within the month you’re applying for, if that helps, but again, only one application per group allowed.
Since it is statistically unlikely that you will be granted a Wave permit, you might start thinking now about what alternative activities you might do. White Pocket is a popular choice, and as of yet doesn’t require a permit. We do recommend, however, going with a licensed guide service since the road there is awfully sandy and typically impassable in a standard rental car. Another option for those with unlimited determination to see The Wave, and a vacation budget to match, is to fly over it. Fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters depart out of the Page, AZ, Municipal Airport and can be chartered to fly over not only Coyote Buttes, but Rainbow Bridge, Cottonwood Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and many other scenic highlights in the area. Flights don’t land at The Wave, but would show you a ton of amazing scenery you may not have the time or inclination to visit on foot. For more information on chartering a flight over The Wave, visit our companion site, http://www.TheWaveAZ.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
When I win permit is it only for me, or my husband can come along? Thanks
Hi Lianna,
This is a very good question! When you apply for a Wave permit, either through the online lottery or the walk-in lottery, you must apply for all members of your party who wish to hike. So, if you and your husband want to hike, you must apply for two spaces. If anyone else wishes to join you, you must put their names down on your application. If you were to apply for a hiking permit in your name only, only you would be permitted to make the hike. Your husband would NOT be able to just “come along” with you. If he did so, both you and he would risk fines and/or jail time!
Hope that clarifies things.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Is it too late to apply for the wave permit for travel dates in Sept 2019?
Hi Sukaina,
Yes, it is too late to apply for the online lottery for September – that took place in May. However, when you arrive in the area, you can apply for the walk-in lottery at the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Visitors Center in Kanab, Utah. You would apply for a permit the day PRIOR to when you wish to actually hike.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I have a large family group of 12 to 18 coming to Arizona in January.p I know I am going to try the lottery for the Wave. I am afraid one of the other families will also try and apply. I hate to tell them don’t. But again I don’t want to give up my chances of getting permits. What should we do?
Hey Jill,
By visiting in January, your chances of winning the Wave lottery are *slightly* higher than they would be at other times of the year, but just slightly. Your best move is acknowledging that both families’ chances of obtaining a permit either through the on-line or walk-in lottery are going to be quite small to begin with. So, even if you were to advise your other family members against applying, statistically speaking, the more likely outcome is neither family getting chosen. On the off-chance that another family is chosen and yours is not, be happy for their good fortune, plan something fun for yourselves, and enjoy looking at each other’s photos over a good dinner and some cocktails.
If I were you — all of you — I’d start looking at alternate areas around The Wave that are just as beautiful (some assert even moreso!), but don’t require permits to explore. The “catch?” Many of these areas require traveling down roads that can be quite hazardous, and shouldn’t be attempted in a rental car. Working with a licensed local guide can ensure that a. you make the most of your day by traveling with someone who knows the area and b. that everyone makes it back to the hotel in one piece! For more information on local guides licensed to to go areas such as White Pocket, Alstrom Point, Sidestep Canyon, Soap Creek, and the Cockscomb, visit our companion site TheWaveAZ.com: Hiring A Guide
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Thank you so much for your suggestions.
You’re welcome 🙂
We planning a cross country trip for 4 adults from NJ in 2020. The trip will be abput 4-5 wks. we have seen atlantic Coast and visited Dry tortures, great swamp, blue ridge, okeepenokee, shenandoah and other small and big parks. We have 28 ft RV.
Plan is to drive to Chicago as our first destination of our trip and go out west to Seattle, go on 101 to at least to LA then, turn East to Grand Canyon to part of 66 to mamouth cave and Gatlinburg to back to NJ.
I know its lot and may not get to see everything. My must see is the obscure, underrated, least visited parks and cities. ( some big cities can’t be helped)
I have two questions..
First… any advise on must see parks. If you have any suggestions on what should be skipped and what must be included… I would appreciate it.
Second… I am going to try for the wave lottery. How early can I apply for next 2020 summer trip?
Thank you in advance for the great tips and advise.
Hi Roota!
Apologies for the delay in response to your inquiry.
If you don’t mind, I’m going to work a bit backwards with your particular questions, starting with the Wave lottery: the chart in the post will tell you exactly when you should apply for the online lottery. In a nutshell, it’s four months out. For example, if you want to hike to The Wave in June of 2020, you would need to apply in February. If you wish to hike in July, March would be the month you’d need to submit your application. In the likely event you are not selected for the online lottery, this post also details how you might get a permit through the walk-in lottery permit the day prior to when you wish to hike.
As for the “must-see” parks in the Southwestern US, the Grand Canyon definitely counts; the South Rim would be where you’d want to go. Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell also rank highly on the “must see” list, which you can experience with a 2-3 day stay in Page, AZ. The Utah “Mighty 5” also warrant consideration, which are: Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. However, if this would be too far a swing out of your way, you might simply concentrate on the parks and attractions that are closest to Route 66, aka I-40, this time around. Some good candidates for your time include, but are certainly not limited to, Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument (the latter two are located near Flagstaff, AZ), Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park, Meteor Crater and Meteor City, “Standin’ On The Corner” in Winslow, AZ (have a meal at the La Posada Hotel — you’ll love it!), the Wigwam Village in Holbrook — and that’s just in Arizona! There are all kinds of possibilities along the entire route. As you’ve rightly guessed, you won’t get to see them all, but you’ll have a great time trying LOL. For more information and inspiration visit:
NationalParks.org: Planning A Route 66 Vacation
NationalParkService.gov: List of Sites On Route 66
TheRoute-66.com: National and State Parks Along The Route
Last but not least, be sure to reserve spaces at RV parks in advance of your arrival. Summertime in the American Southwest is not the time to “wing it,” and what with the weather being on the warm side, you’ll definitely want to stay at developed RV parks with access to amenities like air conditioning.
Hope that helps. Feel free to hit us up again if we can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi there
I want to know how i can apply that then i can able to go, its anyway you can help me with that?
Thank you
Hi Wei,
Unfortunately, we cannot assist you in securing hiking permits for The Wave. The rules of the online and walk-in lottery expressly forbid “proxies” or third-party representatives from applying for permits on other parties’ behalf. There is no way to “guarantee” that you’ll be able to go to The Wave as the permit lottery process is very competitive, and it’s not uncommon to find hundreds of people applying for just a handful of permits on any given day. The BLM is considering an increase in the number of permits, but that only promises to be slightly helpful.
If you want to be absolutely certain of seeing Coyote Buttes North and The Wave, the only way to do that is to charter a flight over the area. Fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters can be chartered out of several airports nearby, most notably, Page, AZ. This will be expensive, but this also affords you the opportunities to see other beautiful scenery in the area with virtually no physical effort on your part. For more information, read this piece on our companion site, TheWaveAZ.com: “So You Didn’t Get A Wave Permit – Now What?”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley
I will be renting a 4wd (eg Toyota Rav4) and if I am successful in getting a permit for cayote buttes south, Where can I drive to and how far is the hike to the Buttes area?
Thanks
Adrian
Hi Adrian!
We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you in the Coyote Buttes permit process.
As for where the trailhead to The Wave is, it’s located a few miles down the House Rock Valley Road, an unpaved dirt road that turns South off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT. Look for signs for the Wire Pass Trail.
Experienced Wave hikers recommend that you be at the trailhead, or relatively close by, by sunrise. The hike to The Wave from the parking lot on the House Rock Valley Road (or the “HRVR” as we call it around here) is approximately 3 miles one way. For more information on hiking to The Wave, and another way you might see it in the likely event you don’t get a permit, visit our companion site, http://www.TheWaveAZ.com
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley
Thanks for the quick response and clarification for parking for the Wave. However I am assuming I won’t get a Wave permit so was thinking of applying for the Cayote Buttes South permit and wondering where I could drive to and then how far to walk to the South Buttes – I assume the parking place is different?
Thanks
Adrian
Hi again, Adrian!
Actually, to access Coyote Buttes South, you would also drive down the House Rock Valley Road, but park in a different area depending on which trail you choose to take. There are several ways to access Coyote Buttes South (CBS), but most hikers seem to prefer the Paw Hole Trail. For a wonderfully detailed map, and driving instructions, visit http://www.TheWave.info: Coyote Buttes South For first-hand accounts of the hike, and the drive, visit AllTrails.com: Coyote Buttes South
Good luck again, and let us know how you get on!
Alley 🙂
Thanks very much Alley
Adrian
🙂
Hi,
I would like to apply for the wave permit for hiking in October 2019 for 2 people, question can each of us separately apply for a permit for us or would we be eliminated since both names would be in the lottery twice?
Hi Rita,
Sorry, that would be considered attempting to “game the system,” and would result in the disqualification of both applications.
We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you on getting a permit, they’re hard to come by. If you don’t manage to get one in the on-line lottery, you can try for the walk-in lottery at the Grand Staircase-Escalante Visitors Center in Kanab, UT, the day prior to when you wish to hike.
For more information on The Wave and alternate sightseeing options that don’t require a permit, visit our companion site, http://www.TheWaveAZ.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I’m going to start entering the lottery for Wave hike permits – I’m going to just keep trying and trying. I have a question – when they are drawing the “winners,” if a group of 5 is drawn first, and my group of 6 is drawn second, are we just eliminated, and they draw another group, until they get their 10 people? Should I consider decreasing my group to 3 or 4 people? Thanks – your site is fantastic!
Hi Ann,
You’ve summarized the procedure for drawing Wave lottery winners precisely. It’s an unavoidable fact that the smaller the group = the better the chance of being picked. However — there are some rumors circulating of late that the daily quota may be raised. We’ll keep you posted on that via our companion site, http://www.TheWaveAZ.com, and its corresponding Facebook page.
Good luck to you!
Alley 🙂
Big question for me is, can you fly a drone there?
Small answer: NOPE!