How to Get a Permit for The Wave (Coyote Buttes North)
The Wave is a surreal swirl of striped Navajo sandstone in Coyote Buttes North, on the Arizona side of the Vermilion Cliffs near Kanab, Utah. You can’t just show up — access is by BLM permit only, awarded through a lottery, and demand hugely outstrips the small number of daily permits. There are two ways in: an advance online lottery (months ahead) and a daily geolocation lottery (a day or two before). The hike is about 6 miles round-trip with no marked trail, no water, and no shade — genuinely dangerous in summer heat. Base in Kanab, and always have a backup, because most people don’t win.
Why you need a permit
The Wave sits in a fragile, protected wilderness, and the BLM strictly caps how many people enter Coyote Buttes North each day. That cap is small relative to demand, which is why the permit is famously hard to get. The exact daily permit number, fees, and lottery mechanics have changed several times — verify the current details on the BLM’s Coyote Buttes North page before you plan. The two lotteries below are the structure; the numbers are what shift.
The two ways to win a permit
1. Advance online lottery (plan-ahead). Enter months in advance through the federal recreation lottery for a specific future date, pay a small non-refundable application fee, and find out well ahead of your trip. Best if you can be flexible on dates; odds are long in peak season.
2. Daily geolocation lottery (last-minute). A separate lottery run online a day or two before, open only to people physically within a defined area near the site. Apply from your phone; winners are notified for the next day. Enter both — they’re separate pools.
The hike (don’t underestimate it)
Winning the permit is only half of it. The route is about 6 miles round-trip with no marked trail — you navigate by landmarks, photos, and GPS across open sandstone and sand. There’s no water, no shade, and no cell service, and people have died here from heat in summer. Carry far more water than you think, start early, avoid summer midday entirely, and know how to navigate.
Where to base: Kanab
The nearest town with lodging, food, and gas is Kanab, Utah, about 45 minutes from the Wire Pass trailhead. Kanab is also the hub for the daily geolocation lottery and every backup below, which is why most Wave trips are really Kanab trips. It’s also a great base for Zion and Bryce.
Getting there? Compare rental cars from Las Vegas or St. George for the drive to Kanab and the Vermilion Cliffs.
Didn’t win? The best backups
- Coyote Buttes South — a separate, easier-to-get permit with its own otherworldly formations.
- White Pocket — no permit needed, but a rough 4WD/sand road, so most people book a guided tour out of Kanab.
- Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch — a stunning slot canyon on a simple day-use permit, right by the Wave trailhead.
- Toadstool Hoodoos / Belly of the Dragon — free, easy consolation hikes near Kanab.
No permit? No problem. Guided White Pocket and Coyote Buttes tours from Kanab — no lottery required.
What most people get wrong
The biggest mistake is building a whole trip around winning The Wave with no plan B — the odds are against you, so book a refundable Kanab base and line up a guided White Pocket or Coyote Buttes South day as your fallback. The second is underestimating the hike. Win or lose the lottery, Kanab gives you a world-class trip either way.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit for The Wave?
Yes — access to Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) is by BLM permit only, awarded through a lottery. There is no walk-up access.
How do you get a permit for The Wave?
Through two lotteries: an advance online lottery months ahead, and a daily geolocation lottery a day or two before for people already in the area. Enter both, and verify the current permit count and fees on the BLM site.
How hard is it to get a Wave permit?
Very — demand far exceeds the small daily cap, especially in spring and fall. Most applicants don’t win, so have a backup.
Where is The Wave?
In Coyote Buttes North, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, on the Arizona side near the Utah border — most easily reached from Kanab, Utah.
How long is the hike to The Wave?
About 6 miles round-trip with no marked trail, no water, and no shade. Navigation skills and lots of water are required; summer is dangerous.
What can I do instead if I don’t get a permit?
Coyote Buttes South, White Pocket (usually via guided tour), Wire Pass / Buckskin Gulch, and the Toadstool Hoodoos are all excellent nearby alternatives out of Kanab.
Keep planning: Zion · Bryce Canyon · 7-day Utah road trip.
