🏔 Wilderness
The Wave – Coyote Buttes North
About This Permit
The Wave is the most visually stunning rock formation in the American Southwest — undulating bands of petrified Jurassic sand dunes compressed into flowing ribbons of color over 190 million years. Just 64 people are allowed per day across two lottery systems, making it the most competitive BLM permit in the country. There is no marked trail; navigation is by GPS and BLM-issued route descriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does The Wave advance lottery work?
You apply during a calendar month for permits in the calendar month four months ahead (e.g., applying in January enters you for May dates). The lottery runs on the 1st of the following month at 9:00am; winners must confirm and pay by the 15th or forfeit. Up to 48 of the 64 daily permits are awarded through this lottery.
How does The Wave daily lottery work?
A rolling daily lottery releases the remaining 16 of the 64 daily permits. Apply on recreation.gov before the cutoff the evening before your intended visit (verify current times at recreation.gov as they may change). You can also apply in person at the Kanab BLM office. Odds are still single-digit percentages in peak season.
Which lottery should I try?
Apply for the advance lottery 4 months out for the best chance — it awards the most permits. If you missed the advance window, the daily lottery is your backup. Either way, expect acceptance rates well under 10% in spring and fall.
Is there a trail to The Wave?
No marked trail exists. Navigation is by GPS and landmark-based route descriptions from the BLM permit office. The 3-mile route from Wire Pass Trailhead crosses open sandstone and sandy washes — plan for 2–3 hours each way.
Key Facts
- State
- AZ
- Season
- Year-round
- Quota
- 64 permits per day total — 48 via 4-month advance lottery, 16 via rolling 2-day-out daily lottery
- Trailhead
- Wire Pass Trailhead
- Entry Point
- Wire Pass Trailhead (3 miles to The Wave)
- Difficulty
- 5/5(Nearly impossible)
Get an SMS the moment a cancellation opens — we scan every 60 seconds.
Set an Alert for This Permit