Want to visit the Wave? Here is everything you need to know to get a permit.
The Wave has been on both our bucket lists ever since we met. Jacob has tried to sign up online on and off for the past 5 years with no luck (it was harder than reservations at the French Laundry).
Since we’ve been getting a lot of questions on how to get permits and how the lottery works, we decided to pull all the info together here for you.
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Last Updated: March 25, 2023
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.
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:
The lottery happens at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah. To sign up, the doors open to the group leader at 8 AM and you need your own pen or pencil to complete the application. Between 8:30-9 AM, the lottery briefings begin and the staff accepts applications.
At 9 AM, the ranger assigns everyone a number then the excitement starts. He proceeds to pick out numbers until all 16 spots (or four groups) are filled. Each morning the permits given out are for the next day. There is no cost for the walk-in lottery.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center
745 E. Highway 89 in Kanab Utah (map)
(across from Wendy’s and Walkers Gas Station)
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.
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.
You can also find dinosaur tracks, which you can read more about here.
This is Fatali’s Boneyard, which was made popular by a photographer named Michael Fatali. He’s also known as the photographer who burned Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. Did anyone ever hear what happened?
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.
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
Planning Checklist
- Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
- Find a great deal on Kanab hotels.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Book a tour for your visit.
- Get airport lounge access.
- Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
- Get a new backpack for your trip.
- Buy a Utah travel guide.
- Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
- Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.
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.
Have you tried getting permits to The Wave?
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SEE More From the Area
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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
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if only 20 people a day get to go in, and of course summer is when I would be coming seems to me I would never get to see it for many days….they must not want people to see it to bad they can’t let more go. With the cost of motel gas ect. for vacation I will never get to see it darn.
Just depends how lucky you are. Even if you don’t get the permits, there’s plenty to explore in the area though.
Hey! Is the visitor center only open on the week days?? Can you go Saturday/Sunday??
Hi Danika, they only open on the weekdays during the winter. Check out their hours here: https://www.blm.gov/visit/kanab-visitor-center
Hi thanks for the info. Three questions, how long is the hike? I want to take my wife and daughter (age 11), is this hike suitable for an 11 year old? We have a small Mercedes Sprinter motorhome which is only 24′, do you think we will be able to drive it to the trail head assuming dry conditions? It not, I will be looking for a guide company.
Hi! The hike is roughly 5.5 miles round trip. An 11 year old should be okay as long as you are careful (there are some exposed sections) and bring enough water since it can get very hot. I personally wouldn’t take a motorhome on that road based on the conditions we saw. You can always ask the ranger if you get the permit. Otherwise, I would just rent a vehicle to get out there that day. Good luck with the permit!
Hey guys this post has been instrumental in planning our trip. We have permits for next week! I’m so excited. I have two questions that I’m hoping you can answer. First, I was wondering if you remember how long the drive was from Kanab, UT to the trail head? Google maps says 1hr 3 minutes. Do you think that’s accurate considering the 8 mile dirt road? Second, I wanted to know how reliable/useful you found the map provided to you with your permits. I’ve read some other blogs on this trail and have read mixed things; some people found it useful, others just relied on their GPS because the pictures provided didn’t match the landscape. Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Thank you guys so much for this post, I can’t tell you enough how many times we’ve all read it!
Hi Anthony, in terms of directions, that’s definitely a safe estimate of time. The road conditions can change based on weather (if it rained recently) and it will depend on the type of car you are driving. We were in a Ford F150 so we didn’t have any issues and could drive down the road a bit faster, whereas if I were in a smaller car, I would probably have taken it slower.
As far as the maps goes, that is all we used and didn’t have trouble. There were a couple times where we questioned if we were going the right way, but as long as it’s daylight, you can find your way relatively easily. If you tend to get lost outdoors or want to go when it’s dark, then it’s good to have GPS as well.
Have fun and let us know if you have any other questions.
Did you happen to do any of the other nearby sights? Like the 2nd wave, Alcove, or Melody Arch? If so, do you remember about how long it took to get to them?
We did! There are more photos here. http://localadventurer.com/the-wave-vermilion-cliffs-national-monument/ We spent maybe an hour and a half making a loop to explore the different areas but really took our time with photos.
Hi,
I was selected in the lottery application process for a Coyote Buttes North permit for the summer.
I have a question about the Permit Application, maybe you’ll know the answer …
For the application, we need the Vehicle license at trailhead but we will rent a car at Los Angeles Airport when we will arrive in the US in July 2018 so we don’t know the vehicle license yet… do you know how can we do ? or who I can contact (I’d would prefer writing contact than phone number ^^ my English is not so good)
Thank you in advance for you reply,
Have a good day,
Marine
Unfortunately, I’m not sure about that. The easiest way to get in touch with them would be to call their offices during business hours. Not sure if they have an email they answer. Let me know if you find out and good luck!
Hey Jacob and Marine,
I also got the lottery for this fall. To answer your question, you can just put “rental” on the vehicle license field. That should do the trick!
Henry from walkinmyshew
Thank You Guys for the detailed info!!!!!!! Very very helpful !!!!
Hi, thanks for the tips!
How long is the walk-in lottery process? We are thinking of trying the lottery in Kanab in the morning. Do you think we will have enough time to drive to Page for the 11:30 am Upper Antelope Tour?
Stella
Hi Stella, it’s hard to say exactly how long because it will depend on how many numbers he has to draw or if there is confusion etc. I would say it SHOULD only take 15 minutes or so. The main issue is if you get chosen, then you have wait for everyone to leave and stay longer for the orientation. Since it’s only an hour fifteen away, you should be able to make it Page in time if you don’t get chosen – just double check the time difference!
Thank you for your reply. I have also realized that the drawing takes place in Utah (1-hr ahead of Page, AZ), which gives us an extra hour! So our odds to arrive on time are ok. Really look forward to this adventure. :)
Great post. Thanks for exposing this lottery system that takes advantages of travelers.
Thanks for the tip! Very helpful :)
Hi, Hailey. So glad you found it helpful. Are you planning a trip there soon?
help a lot with easy tips and clear love!!!!
Thank you Ricardo! I hope you get to see it!