Your Guide to The Wave in Arizona, From the Permit Lottery to Hike Day

The Wave (Coyote Buttes North)

In the world of desert hiking permits, nothing comes close to The Wave. This rippled rock formation in Arizona’s Coyote Buttes North sees over 150,000 permit requests each year for just 64 daily spots.

Here’s a quck guide to joining the lucky few who make it through.

Advanced & Daily Lottery

There are two ways to get a permit for The Wave: the Advanced Online Lottery and the Daily Lottery.

For the former, you need to apply four months in advance via recreation.gov. The daily lottery opens two days in advance of available hiking dates.

Apply Four Months Before Your Planned Visit Date

To try the advanced lottery, start by making a Recreation.gov account. Then apply during any month for dates four months later and pay the $9 fee. You can pick three possible dates but submit only one application per month.

The system stops duplicates by checking both your email and IP address. The window opens right at midnight Mountain Time on each month’s first day. When you apply during the month doesn’t change your chances.

After winning, you have exactly 14 days to confirm.

Mobile Device Required Within Geofenced Area

For the daily lottery, you must be inside the “geofenced” area, use only a mobile device, apply two days before you want to hike, submit between 6am-6pm Utah time, and pay $9.

This geofenced zone covers around 3,500 square miles across northern Arizona and southern Utah. Make sure to turn on GPS permissions. The system checks your IP address to stop VPN use that might get around the geofence rules.

Since March 15, 2025, in-person applications at Kanab don’t exist anymore.

Three Alternates Can Be Added During Application

When applying, add alternates during your application (not after), make sure they have Recreation.gov accounts, and know they must accept invitations within 3 days. Either the main permit holder or an accepted alternate must join the hike.

You can add up to three alternates per application. The main permit holder can’t transfer the permit to anyone not listed. All alternates need their unique Recreation.gov account ID number, not just email.

Alternates can’t apply for their own Wave permit in the same month.

Winners Notified Via Email

For the advanced lottery, the drawing happens the first day of the month at 9:00am, with all applicants getting emails right away. For the daily lottery, winners find out by 7:30pm that same day.

The BLM sends two reminder emails at 48 and 24 hours after selection.

Failed to confirm within the window? The permit goes to someone else. The drawing uses a secure random number system.

Credit Card Payment Required Within 24 Hours

After winning, pay $7 for each person or dog, count everyone no matter their age, and fill out all needed info right away. Only credit cards work for payment—no cash or checks.

You must pay within exactly 24 hours after getting picked or lose your permit. Each permit allows at most six people total, no matter how old they are.

Service animals cost the same $7 fee but need proper papers.

Missing The Safety Briefing Voids Your Permit

The day before hiking, attend the mandatory safety meeting, grab your permit and maps, or risk losing your spot. This 30-minute session covers specific dangers like flash floods, heat stroke, and GPS navigation.

Briefings start at exactly 8:30am with no late arrivals allowed. Everyone must sign a waiver about the risks. You’ll get a special BLM map marking 16 specific points to help with navigation.

Kanab Center Opens From 8:00am-5:00pm MT Daily

As of July 7, 2025, pick up permits at either the Kanab Center (20 N 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741) or Page-Lake Powell HUB (48 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040). Watch out for time zones.

Kanab Center opens 8:00am-5:00pm MT every day. Page-Lake Powell HUB runs 7:30am-4:30pm Arizona time. During Daylight Savings (March-November), Utah stays one hour ahead of Arizona.

Both places need government photo ID. After 5:00pm, unclaimed permits disappear with no refunds.

You Need to Know Your Stuff

To prepare for navigation: study all route materials, understand there aren’t any trails, know backcountry navigation, use the GPS coordinates provided, and plan for the 6.4-mile round trip.

The Wire Pass trailhead sits at 37.0191° N, 112.0247° W. Finding your way means spotting 12 distinct landmarks including “The Notch” and “Second Ridge.” Cell service doesn’t exist on the hike.

The unmarked path crosses three watersheds with terrain that looks the same. Regular compasses sometimes fail because of magnetic issues in the sandstone.

Trail Involves 1,200 Feet Of Elevation Change

Think about hiking fitness: check everyone’s physical condition, get ready for a tough walk, handle rough terrain without trails, and maybe hire guides if navigation worries you.

The route includes 1,200 feet of total elevation change over different surfaces.

Summer heat often goes above 100°F with zero shade. The sandy parts take 30% more energy than solid ground. Every year, the BLM reports 12-15 medical evacuations from the Wave trail, mostly for heat problems and dehydration.

Getting to the Wave

For transportation: bring high-clearance vehicles to reach Wire Pass Trailhead, know that two-wheel-drive usually works but four-wheel-drive helps when wet, realize roads may become blocked in bad weather, and check conditions before leaving.

House Rock Valley Road covers 8.3 miles of dirt road to the trailhead. Vehicles need at least 8 inches of ground clearance. The road crosses five dry washes that can flood fast during storms.

The BLM updates road conditions daily at 7:00am MT on their website and hotline (435-688-3200).

Temperatures Between Sandstone Walls Reach 120°F

Pack what you need: one gallon of water per person (more in summer), food and snacks, navigation tools, a communication device (cell service doesn’t work), first aid supplies, and protection from weather.

Emergency satellite beacons help a lot since cell phones won’t work there. Key items include electrolyte supplements, wide-brim hats, and SPF 50+ sunscreen. Heat between the sandstone walls can hit 120°F in summer.

Carry a detailed map with UTM coordinates matching the GPS waypoints you received.

Rangers Patrol Daily And Issue $250 Fines

On hike day: put half your permit on your dashboard, sign the trail register, carry your permit, and be ready to show it to rangers. Place the dashboard permit on the driver’s side with the number showing.

Find the trail register book in a metal box 50 feet from parking. Rangers check the area daily and give $250 fines for permit problems. Keep your hiking permit in something waterproof so it doesn’t get damaged.

Complete the check-out process when you return to confirm you got back safely.

Drones Prohibited Throughout Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

Know these rules: all fees can’t be refunded, permits can’t transfer except to registered alternates, no changes allowed, day-use only, dogs must be on the permit, and you’re responsible for staying safe.

The permit lets you access from sunrise to sunset only. BLM rangers check for rule-followers along the route every day. Breaking permit rules can bring federal penalties up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.

Taking commercial photos needs an extra special permit ($250). Drones aren’t allowed anywhere in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.