The Wave

Cappie’s Scoop: Mom said this was a very special trip and now I know why. These rocks are amazing! I got to hike on lots of big rocks for a long time, it was mostly rocks and some sand but we weren’t at the beach. I even got really high and could see rocks for miles. The weather was very nice so my paws didn’t get hot at all. We had some snacks sitting on rocks and then made our way back. I hope we can come back one day! Don’t hesitate to add YOUR scoop in the comments below!

Tips: This epic hike is located in the Coyote Buttes North area on the Utah Arizona border. The best time to visit for photos is mid-morning to early afternoon to minimize shadows. Besides your main attraction (The Wave), there are several other rock formations and also some dinosaur tracks to check out while you’re there. Some of them are easy to find and others require a bit more navigation with a map or GPS.

We’ve been lucky enough to win the online lottery twice. We received our permit in the mail along with a parking permit and a map (mostly with pictures which is a lot of fun). Display your parking permit in the window of your car and place your hiking permit on your backpack. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does check and also has been known to hike the trail, checking hiker’s permits along the way. On our recent visit in November 2020, we were surprised to find new trail signs/markers and more cairns guiding your way into The Wave making it much easier to find.

Permits: Effective February 1, 2021, the daily limit on visits to The Wave increased! Now up to 64 people or 16 groups are allowed to visit each day, whichever comes first. The online lottery will grant permits for up to 48 people or 12 groups and the walk-in lottery for up to 16 people or 4 groups.

Most popular months are April, May, September, and October. We visited on Thanksgiving Day in November and the weather was perfect. It gets very hot in the summer months so if you’re bringing your dog, you should consider another time. The hike may only be 6 miles but it’s on sand and rocks which can heat up quickly and be too hot for your dog’s pads.

Online Permits: Permits are distributed by lottery, either through this Daily Lottery, two days ahead of the permit date, or through the Advanced Lottery four months ahead of the permit date. For the Advanced Lottery:  Apply for a permit for the Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) at this link – https://www.recreation.gov/permits/274309. The lottery opens up four months in advance of your trip date and you have the whole month to apply. For example, if you want a permit on November 26, you would apply for a permit between July 1-31. See full schedule below. For the Daily Lottery: Apply for a permit at this link – https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4251909.

Coyote Buttes North Lottery Schedule

Apply between         for a permit during
January 1 – 31     —     May
February 1 – 28     —     June
March 1 – 31     —     July
April 1- 30     —     August
May 1 – 31     —     September
June 1 – 30     —     October
July 1 – 31     —     November
August 1 – 31     —     December
September 1 – 30     —     January
October 1 – 31     —     February
November 1 – 30     —     March
December 1 – 31     —     April

Walk-in Permits: It’s our understanding that there are no longer walk-in permits with the addition of the online daily lottery now.

Directions:

From the town of Page, AZ, take US-89 headed west for about 34 miles entering Utah. Turn left onto House Rock Valley Road and travel 8.4 miles to the Wire Pass trailhead. Parking lot will be on your right.

From the town of Kanab, UT, take US-89 headed south/east for about 38 miles. Turn right onto House Rock Valley Road and travel 8.4 miles to the Wire Pass trailhead. Parking lot will be on your right.