Can’t get a permit for “The Wave?” Here’s a similar spot!
Elusive. Frustrating. Confusing.
I’d use any (actually all) of these words to describe the permit process you have to go through to hike the natural phenomenon known as “The Wave” in Arizona.
The good news is: You can enjoy a similar landscape in a nearby part of the Desert Southwest!
I know. The Buckskin Gulch area looks quite a bit different from The Wave. Its worn-away lines in the sandstone aren’t as perfectly smooth and mesmerizing. But hear me out!
The area known as "The Wave" is officially known as Coyote Buttes North.
It's part of the 110,000-acre Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs area, under the control of the Bureau of Land Management.
The BLM strictly limits visits to The Wave, to preserve the unique area, and prevent damage.
I’m using these photos taken by a friend, Terry Secody (IG: @t_secody) because I’ve never landed my own permit!
A grand total of 64 people can visit The Wave each day. Permits are granted by two separate, confusing lottery systems, which are detailed down below.
Each application costs $9, and you're certainly not guaranteed entry. My colleague is $90 deep into application fees, and has never secured a permit!
I’m told the lottery system will soon be changing, and I’ll update when that switch is made.
Try Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch
A worthy alternative is a trip to the area known as Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch.
It's off US Highway 89, between Page, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah. You'll take a bumpy ride down House Rock Valley Road (plug it into your map), preferably in a 4x4 or SUV of some sort, to the trailheads.
There are a few trailheads into Buckskin Gulch. You can pay for a day pass right in the parking lot. It’s $6, and you can stick cash in an envelope when you park.
Parking at Wire Pass leads you to the easiest, and shortest route to the narrow gorge, surrounded by walls of Navajo Sandstone.
If you park at the Buckskin Trailhead, you'll get a much longer, more scenic walk through a wash, which features wind-worn sandstone. It was a great day, but keep in mind: cell signal is non-existent. We got lost several times meandering through, trying to find the link to the Wire Pass area.
Also, keep in mind, you'll walk several miles through the wash before things get "interesting.”
Next time, we'll park at Wire Pass.
Either way, you'll find eroded, wind-worn sandstone cliffs to explore.
“The Wave” lottery (or lotteries)
Up to 48 people a day are awarded permits through a difficult online lottery system you have to apply for, four months ahead of your desired hiking date.
In addition, another 16 lucky people per day have the chance to win permits each day... for the *following day... through a "walk-in" lottery at the Kanab Center Gym.
For The Wave, you can apply here: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/274309
All of the information about the lotteries and permits are here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/arizona/coyote-buttes-north
You cannot:
-drive any kind of vehicle to The Wave
-camp at The Wave
-establish a cell signal in much of the area
-reschedule your permit due to weather or illness
-build a campfire near The Wave
-let dogs off-leash
-fly a drone in wilderness areas, like The Wave
-change or modify your permits
-get a refund for any of the fees
Direct from the BLM:
You must apply four months in advance.
You have an entire month to apply.
(For example, you can apply January 1-31, and the online lottery would occur February 1 for permits to visit The Wave in May.)
You can choose up to three entry dates per application. If you are a successful applicant, you will only be authorized one trip.
There is a non-refundable $9 administrative fee to apply per application.
There is no age limit to apply, but there must be adult accompaniment for the hike.
We will notify you on the first of the month via e-mail if your application was successful or not.
Confused? Here's an example from the BLM:
Let's say you want to visit Coyote Buttes North in April. Here's the procedure you would follow.
Go to the Permit Page between December 1 and December 31.
Follow the directions, choosing up to three possible entry dates. If successful, you will only be authorized one date.
You will be notified via e-mail the first day in January whether your lottery application was successful or not. If you do not receive a notification, call 877-444-6777. You must check whether your application was successful. If your application was successful, you must accept your permits by the 15th of the month or your permits will be relinquished.
After being notified, you will have 14 calendar days to pay for your permit. You can pay online with your credit card. Your e-mail notification will contain a link to a secure web page, where you can pay and submit the remainder of your trip information.
We will mail your permit to you four to six weeks after you have paid your fees.
Walk-up permit procedure
This is direct from the BLM:
From mid-March to mid-November, walk-in permits are issued daily. From mid-November through mid-March, we issue walk-in permits Monday–Friday, except for three federal holidays: Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November), Christmas Day (December 25), and New Year's Day (January 1). During this time, we will draw permits for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday on the previous Friday.
For Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), go to the Kanab Center Gymnasium, 180 E. 100 North, at 8:30 a.m. Mountain time to submit your application. Be aware of possible time changes as you travel. For example, the lottery takes place in Utah, which observes daylight saving time; Arizona does not observe daylight saving time. The lottery for Coyote Buttes North runs at 9:00 a.m.
You must pay for walk-in permits with either exact cash or check. We cannot make change, and there is no ATM available. We do not accept credit cards.
Only one person per group may enter the lottery. If more than one member from your group submits an application, your group will be disqualified from the lottery.
You may be required to show government-issued identification.
Sixteen permits or four groups (whichever comes first) are available for the walk-in lottery.
Confused? Here's an example from the BLM:
Seventy-five people show up on a Tuesday.
The first to be drawn is a group of four.
(12 people or 3 groups remain)
The next to be drawn is a group of five.
(7 people or 2 groups remain)
Next drawn is a group of four.
(3 people or 1 group remain)
Finally, a group of five is drawn. This group will have a difficult decision: only three members of their party can receive a permit, or they can decide not to go that day. If this group decides not to take the permit, we will continue drawing until a permit is issued.