How to Get the Wave Permit in Arizona

How to Get the Wave Permit in Arizona

Now that we’re living in the Airstream, we thought this was going to be our best chance. We decided to stay in Kanab and glamp out for several days, which is where the in-person lottery is held.

Our plan was to go in every morning and enter the lottery. If we didn’t get in, there is so much to explore in the area anyways. Luckily, on the second day, we heard our number called, but we went in with zero expectations.

See More: 11+ Breathtaking Things to Do in Kanab Utah

What is the Wave?

The Wave Rock Formation is located in Coyote Buttes North, which is part of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. The trailhead is located in Utah, and you hike over the border where you’ll arrive into the permitted area.

How to Get the Wave Permit

This is the big question! There are 64 people allowed onto the Wave per day. 48 people (or 12 groups) are awarded permits online and 16 (or four groups) are awarded at a walk-in lottery. You submit one permit per group, and any duplicate applications will forfeit your chances, so you can’t apply with all your friends at the same time. Once you win, there is a $7 fee per person or dog for the permit.

The Wave Permit Lottery Online versus Walk-in / GeoFence Lottery

If you’re interested in trying for the online lottery, you can find out more info here. The chances are much slimmer because you are competing with everyone in the world who wants to go. You can apply up to four months in advance (apply in Jan for May, Feb for June, etc) and have an entire month to apply. There is a $9 application fee, and you can choose up to three entry dates per application but can only win one trip.

Starting March 15, 2022, the in-person lottery is changing to an in-the-area lottery. The new mobile-based geofence system will allow people to be close by on their mobile devices to enter the lottery. On the plus side, you don’t need to wait around to see if you get chosen, but on the negative, there is now a fee to apply.

After downloading the Recreation.gov app and creating an account, you can apply two days prior to the desired hike between 6am-6pm. At 7:15pm that day, winners will be chosen and have until 8am to log in to claim permits. If you’re lucky enough to get them, you will still need to do an in-person safety briefing at 8:30am the next day for a hike the following day. There will now be a $9 application fee as well.

It’s hard to tell how this will affect how many people will enter, but it gives you the freedom to plan your days without having to spend time at the offices.

The Old in-person Lottery

Previously, on average there are 200 people in the walk-in lottery. There are no longer off seasons. Due to the recent bad weather, we were lucky to have only 120 in the room with us.

This is what the in-person lottery looked like when we were there: 

Additional Tips for Walk In / GeoFence Permits for the Wave

• There are a few parking spots large enough for an RV.
• To increase your chances, stay in Kanab and try for the pass every day. There is plenty to explore if you don’t get it (Zion NP, White Pocket, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend etc).
• Keep in mind if you stay in Page, AZ instead of Kanab, that they do not observe daylight savings time. Keep that in mind if you win the lottery and need to make it to the briefing in time.
• If you win, you need to claim your permits on the app.
• “High Season” is April-June and September-November, but because of increasing popularity, it’s busy all year long.
• They prefer you bring exact change for the permits.
• Unfortunately, there are no special tricks to increase your chances. Just keep trying.

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Tips for Driving and Hiking to the Wave

• The trailhead is roughly 45 min-1 hr away from Kanab. After leaving the highway, there is an 8-mile dirt road that you will have to drive down. Depending on the current conditions you may need a 4-wheel drive and high clearance or worst case is it could be impassable. Check with the visitors center for the most recent info.
• If you get stuck in the mud, towing out is at least $1000, and you’ll lose your chance to go.
• If you’re afraid of getting lost on the hike or the drive is too intimidating, you can always hire a guide. They don’t need permits, but you will. We previously used and recommend Dreamland Tours.
• The hike is exposed and can get very hot. Bring appropriate attire, plenty of water (our favorite travel water bottles), snacks, and sunblock – see below for our packing guide.
• People get lost all the time, but they give you a pamphlet of directions with photos. We got a little lost, but overall, we had no problems getting in and out.
• There are a few markers, but for the most part is is an unmarked trail. Rangers even knock down cairns to keep it natural.
• There is a lot more to see in the Coyote Buttes North area. Don’t just hike in, see the wave, and leave. We used this site to get directions to the other landmarks.
• The permit is good from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM. If we were to do it again, we would hike at night to be there at sunrise or stay after sunset. If it’s your first time, it’s best to hike with daylight, otherwise, it’s easy to get lost. They told us someone accidentally walked off a cliff and died recently.

Other Features Near the Wave

The Wave area is actually quite small but Coyote Buttes North has so much more to explore. You can go on to see the Second Wave (right) and Third Wave or Sand Cove (left).

Photography Tips

• We started our hike at sunrise and when we arrived, the wave had mixed lighting. The Wave is in a depression, so the sunlight does not fully light up the Wave until approximately an hour and a half after (depending on the time of year).
• For the best photos, you can hike in before sunrise or stay after sunset, but since it was our first time, we didn’t want to get lost.
• If it rained recently, look for puddles to shoot reflections!
• We left Kanab 30 minutes before sunrise and were the first ones to arrive at the wave. We had roughly one hour before anyone else arrived.

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What to Pack for the Wave

• Clothes appropriate for the weather. On the day we went, we had lows of 44 and highs of 77. We both brought layers and shed them mid-hike.
• Daypack – After trying all the daypacks out there, we just replaced our REI flashpack with this one, and it has been our favorite since!
• Solid Hiking Shoes. The terrain is made of gravel, sand, and rocks, be sure to wear sturdy and comfortable shoes. These are the ones we wore.
• Hats. This is a must to keep you cool. Jacob loves this hat since it has a convertible flap to protect your ears and neck, I just chose to wear one that’s pretty. haha
• Water. The amount will depend on how long you will be out and how hot it is. We use this for longer, hotter days, and this one for shorter ones.
• Photo Gear. We brought our 5D Mark III with our 35mm prime and 16-35mm lenses. I brought the 16-35 just in case, but you can probably get away with shooting with a 35mm on a full frame. We also brought a trigger, tripod, and Sony RX100 for video.

Where to Stay

What’s Nearby

Can’t get permits to the wave? There are so many incredible hikes and things to do in Kanab Utah that won’t leave you disappointed. We listed a few highlights below, but be sure to check out the full post.

• White Pocket
• Toadstool Hoodoos Hike
• Zion National Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park