Winning a ‘Wave’ Permit (and what to expect once you do)

man waving in middle of wave-like rock formation

It’s Utah and Arizona’s shared wonder. A once-in-a-lifetime destination, equal parts hard to secure a permit to visit and incredible to photograph in person. Perhaps the definition of an “Instagrammable” location. What are we talking about? The Wave. A sandstone rock formation in the shape of orangey red, white, pink, and yellow waves.

If you’re here to win a permit, you’ve probably seen a picture of The Wave. That’s what happened to us. I was scrolling through Instagram and stumbled upon an aesthetically pleasing picture of a hiker smack dab in the middle of (what I now know is) The Wave.

The picture was tagged as The Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, so I quickly opened a tab on my computer to learn more. There I found the Wave on the border of Utah and Arizona… right where we’d be for one month of our 2021 Travel Season.

The only problem? We’d need a permit that was notoriously hard to get. According to the BLM, your odds were around 3.6% before the increase in available permits, and now I read are between 4-8%. During the 15 days we applied, our daily odds averaged around 7%.

Here’s everything we learned about winning a permit to visit the Wave in Coyote Buttes North (and what to expect once you do).

dog standing in front of red, white, pink sandstone waves — The Wave is dog-friendly! Make sure to include your pup on your permit application!

Table of Contents Hide

How to Get a Permit for The Wave

Although one of your two options for getting a Wave permit has changed (from an in-person daily lottery to a mobile-based geofence lottery), The Wave is still one of the most difficult hiking permits to get in the US.

We won after entering the online lottery and then the in-person lottery for 15 days in a row. (We spent one month of our 2021 season in Kanab, Utah. Our rental was about a 5-minute walk to the daily lottery location, so we entered each day we could before work.)

Winning alongside us was a couple who had been applying online for 15 years. They hadn’t won yet, so for her 70th birthday, they made a trip to Kanab for the in-person lottery. (I think they won on their second day in person!)

While exploring the Wave, we met a family who’d been applying online for a similar amount of time. They finally won - and flew into town just for the day. You enter online for a date four months in the future, and by the time their date rolled around, they weren’t able to make a longer trip. So this family flew in late at night, hiked the Wave the next morning, then flew home that same day.

Those are just a few examples of how difficult winning a Wave permit can be (and likewise, how much it means to finally win, so keep trying!!).

The Online Lottery

The first place most people go to try and win a Wave permit is recreation.gov. Here, you’ll be able to apply for a Wave permit up to four months in advance of the date(s) you’d like to visit.

This is the “advanced” or online Wave lottery.

If you want to visit The Wave between June 1st and June 30th, for example, you’ll apply in the month of February. Your application fee is nonrefundable and due at the time of your application. You’ll find out if you’ve won on the first day of the next month. (So, if you’re applying in February for a June visit, lottery results are typically available on March 1st.)

The lottery rules then state that you have until the 15th to finalize your permit if you’ve won. Each person can only submit one application, and you’ll have the opportunity to apply for three dates (though you’ll only be assigned one if you win).

Learn more about applying online for a Wave permit here!

Mobile-Based Geofence Lottery (New Daily Lottery)

If you don’t win the online lottery, or you don’t want to submit a nonrefundable permit fee in advance, you can enter the daily lottery.

The daily lottery takes place daily for people who enter within a geofence area. (See the area map here. Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona are the biggest cities within the geofence area.)

For the daily lottery, you enter two days prior to the day you’d like to hike. (If you’d like to hike on February 11th, then you’d enter on February 9th by 6:00pm MST.) You can only enter on a mobile device. You’ll be notified that evening if you win. If so, you need to accept your permit and pay your permit fee by 8am Utah time the following day.

You’ll also need to be onsite at a permit pickup location by 8:30am local time for a safety briefing. (These offices are typically in Kanab, Utah or Page, Arizona.)

Note: Due to daylight savings, local time may differ between Kanab and Page. Make sure to double and triple-check deadlines and local time zones. Also, be sure your desired pick-up location is open. (I’ve read some feedback that the Kanab office has been closed on certain days, including Saturdays. Before you make the drive and risk voiding your permit by missing the pickup window, double-check that where you’re headed is open!)

For the daily lottery, 4 groups or 16 people - whichever comes first - win each day. (Pups don’t count in these numbers. If yours is traveling with you, make sure to include them on your application - the Wave is pet-friendly!)

Learn more about the Wave geofence lottery here.

What the In-Person Lottery Was Like (Old Daily Lottery)

Just for fun (and because we spent 15 days in a gym in Kanab, Utah, to snag this permit and get a whole bunch of details about how to help you do it 🤪)… Here’s what the in-person daily lottery was like before it became the mobile-based geofence lottery.

We applied daily for 15 days in a row at the Kanab Center Gym in downtown Kanab. You enter with your group (on the same application), and at least one person from your group must be onsite to win.

The in-person lottery was a lot of fun — until you’re on Day 14 and tired of watching Day 1-ers show up and win, ha! — because it really did feel like playing and winning the lottery.

Actual lottery balls were used. Each group that entered got a number, and then 4 numbers - or however many numbers corresponded to 16 people, whichever came first - were chosen from a lottery ball machine.

Since at least one person from each group had to be present to win, there was always a big group of people waiting for the draw. (Doors opened at 8:30, and winners were selected at 9am.) There was a lot of excitement in the air each day as everyone hoped this was the day they won!

After applying for two+ weeks in a row, we were able to see how many applicants entered each day. We took note of the trends (my degree is in math, and Jon works in tech… we both love numbers!). Our insider tip (that may or may not apply to the new Geofence Lottery)… We saw the fewest applicants on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (applying for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday - the old lottery had you enter one day in advance since you were already on site to pick up your permit and receive your safety briefing).

Your best odds? This means our best chance of winning was applying to visit the Wave on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. Based on the number of applicants only, applying on a Sunday to visit the Wave on Monday gave us the best odds of winning. If you want to apply this to the geofence lottery, that’d mean applying on Saturday for Monday.

A Sunday visit being a low day surprised us as it’s obviously a weekend day, but we figured it must be like Sunday beach days, where week-to-week travelers are either not yet in town or packing up to head home. The lower amount of applications when applying for a Monday or Tuesday visit generally makes sense, as Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be quieter for tourist attractions across the board. Note: We were applying at the end of October / beginning of November, so we were technically in a shoulder season. I’m sure this helped our chances, too!

We won on our very last day in town and received a permit to visit the Wave on Friday, November 5th, 2021. (And on the very last number to be drawn! How cool!)

You can click the video below to watch the final ball being drawn on the day we won. When the gentleman running the lottery showed the drawn number to his colleague and his colleague laughed, we felt pretty hopeful it was us. (They knew us from so many days applying, and we knew they were hoping we’d get picked since it was our last day in town.) On our last day, with the last ball drawn, we win!

What to Expect After You Win

Since we won during the old in-person daily lottery, our safety briefing took place right after the lottery in the gym.

For those applying for the new geofence daily lottery, you’ll have to accept your permit / pay your application fee, then show up for an in-person safety briefing the following day. Since the new daily lottery requires you to apply two days in advance, your safety briefing will take place one day before your visit to the Wave.

Note: If you miss your briefing, your permit will be void. Make sure to double-check local time and open permit offices on the day of your briefing.

After this, prepare for your visit the following day! You can hire a guide or prepare to trek in and out on your own. There are no defined trails or markers leading to the Wave and back to your car, so during your safety briefing, you’ll receive a map with GPS and visual marker directions.

It’s easy to get lost walking to or from the Wave. The BLM office recommends you follow only their instructions. This was our plan, but just in case, we downloaded the offline AllTrails map for the wave (using AllTrails Pro) as a backup. The way to the Wave is relatively straightforward, following the map you’re given, but we got turned around returning to our car. We were able to use the AllTrails map to make sure we were moving in the right direction. Consider having a backup map or bringing a GPS for your hike.

During your safety briefing, you’ll also receive information about the trailhead and roads leading to the parking lot. Always follow local advice and make sure to check weather conditions as that can affect how passable the road is. We had a sunny, dry day and no problem approaching the trailhead in a small sedan.

Visiting The Wave

Woohoo!! The day is here, and you’re headed to one of the most unique rock formations in the world!

You’ve got a strenuous but incredible hike in front of you, so give yourself the entire day. And remember, the Wave is a dog-friendly hike, so make sure to include your pup in your application and then bring them with you to share in the fun.

Didn’t get a permit to the Wave in Coyote Buttes North? Consider Coyote Buttes South (you still need a permit, but they are easier to get), Buckskin Gulch Slot Canyon (which starts at the same trailhead as The Wave), or The Great Chamber.

How to Get There

The Wave hike starts at the Wire Pass Trailhead.

If you’re driving from Kanab, you’ll follow US-89 S/E 300 S. After about 38 miles, you’ll arrive at a fork and turn right onto The Cockscomb Road. Drive about 4.5 miles and then continue straight onto House Rock Valley Rd. Continue until you see the trailhead on your right. Park your car and walk across the street to the start of the trail.

If you’re driving from Page, follow US-89 towards Kanab. After about 34 miles, turn left onto The Cockscomb. Drive about 4.5 miles and then continue straight onto House Rock Valley Rd. Continue until you see the trailhead on your right. Park your car and walk across the street to the start of the trail.

Note: Driving from Page, you’ll pass The Toadstools. Consider a stop on your way back. This is one of 10 jaw-dropping things to do near Kanab!

When to Arrive

We recommend you arrive at the Wave trailhead as close to sunrise as possible. In fact, consider arriving about 45 minutes before sunrise, as it’ll be light enough to get started (and the beginning of the hike is fairly easy).

You can also bring headlamps and arrive earlier if you’d like to maximize your time for exploration or if you want to beat the heat. (We were visiting in November, and temperatures were still quite warm during the day. There’s very little shade at the Wave. If you’re visiting in the summer, start early and bring LOTS of water.)

Where to Park

You’ll park at the Wire Pass Trailhead, then walk across the street to begin the trail. Make sure the parking tag from your permit is displayed visibly in your car before you begin your hike. Bring the hiking permit with you.

What to Bring

Plenty of water.
Snacks.
Shaded hiking gear (for you and your pup).
Layers. (Depending on the time of year for your visit, it can be cool during sunrise and warm during the day.)
Map, GPS, and directions!
Camera gear
Your permit
Hiking poles, if you use them

4 Things to Do at The Wave

The Wave is about a 6-mile roundtrip hike. There are no defined trails, so you’ll be following the map given to you during your safety briefing (or following your guide if you’ve decided to hire one).

The main thing to do at the Wave is to see, well, The Wave! This is what likely drew you to this hike and why you worked so hard to get a permit.

While you won’t receive instructions or directions for viewing anything beyond the Wave, there is a lot to explore nearby. We recommend either hiring a guide or having a strong sense of navigational skills (and getting coordinates to these other areas ahead of time). We felt comfortable following AllTrails to some of these other locations; however, that is NOT the recommendation of the BLM.

We’ll list a few things to do nearby the Wave, but make sure you keep track of where you are on the maps you’re given so you can get back to your car safely.

1. The Wave

After hiking about 3 miles, you’ll arrive at the Wave!

Starting our hike at 7:45am on a Friday in early November, we arrived at the Wave about an hour and 6 minutes later. We were the first (that we know of) to arrive at the Wave that morning (which we loved because it meant lots of time for pictures).

The anticipation builds and builds the closer you get to the Wave, ESPECIALLY as you begin to see the wave-like sandstone rock. But then… there’s a bit of confusion and a small let-down as you wonder where the famous view you dreamt of actually is.

Heads up: You must walk through the wave and turn around to see it. Then, your jaw drops!

Fun fact: This hike starts in Utah and ends in Arizona. Since Arizona does not observe daylight savings, we started this hike in one timezone and ended it in another. Meaning, our phones recorded us starting this trail at 7:45am and arriving at the Wave at 7:51am, ha!

sandstone rock walls in the shape of red, pink, and white waves — The Wave! This is the view once you walk through The Wave and turn around. Notice the small puddle toward the back of this image? (Go to the middle of this image and straight back. At the base of that furthest wall, you’ll see what could be a puddle. It is - that’s the end of the puddle Lincoln was walking through in the image above.) This is where you enter the Wave, so you can see how you’ll have to walk through and then turn around to get to this viewpoint.

2. Walk around The Wave

I know this seems a bit obvious, but do ensure you walk beyond the initial viewpoint above. The Wave is in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and the landscape surrounding the Wave is incredibly unique!

When you enter the Wave (from that puddle Lincoln walked through), you can turn left to walk through the Wave and get to the above viewpoint, or you can walk straight through the curved walls below. We highly recommend walking around the Wave while you’re here!

Take this path to the next spot on our list: The Second Wave.

3. The Second Wave

If you walk through the small canyon described above, you’ll be on your way to ‘The Second Wave’. This is another viewpoint in the Vermilion Cliffs that’s totally unique and worth seeing while you’re out here.

This is also a great spot to go if the Wave is busy or you’re waiting to see it in a different light later on. (We took lots of photos at the Wave when we arrived first thing. Then, as other groups arrived, we got out of the way and explored beyond the Wave until we returned midday for a few more photos in different lighting.)

man sitting on small cliff — The Second Wave

4. The Big Mac

I’m partial, as a cheeseburger and french fries is my favorite meal on Earth, but this is one of the coolest things we’ve seen in the wilderness to date! Do you see it in the picture below? 🍔

This is ‘The Big Mac’.

Full disclosure, this is the toughest viewpoint to find on this list. Only attempt to do so with a guide or a map/GPS coordinates and strong navigational skills. It is not worth getting lost (and it’s easy to do so without defined trails or markers).

This is on the “backside” of the Wave (the backside of ‘Top Rock Arch’, which is the arch you can see in the photo below), and it’s a bit of a hike to get to.

We thought about turning around multiple times because we didn’t want to get lost and worried we might have missed the rock. In reality, it’s just a longer trek here than it looks on the map, and you can’t miss it once you’re there. You have to walk uphill the last stretch before arriving, but then it’s obvious: You’ve found a big mac in the middle of the wilderness!

Final Thoughts

After your exploration around the Wave, head back to its main viewpoint for a final look. I’m partial to the morning light (and pink hues), while Jon loved the midday light (and deep orange hues). Both are worth seeing while you’re here, so soak in the view while resting for your trek back to your car.

Keep planning your trip to Utah

If you have more time to explore the Vermilion Cliffs, consider also getting a permit to hike Buckskin Gulch on the same day as the Wave.

While Buckskin Gulch is 16 miles long in total, you can enter just part of Buckskin Gulch from the Wire Pass Trailhead (then return to your car).

This was our last day in town (truly, we started our drive back to Dallas after our hike to the Wave!), so unfortunately, we couldn’t add this on. But if/when we head back to Kanab (or Page), I’d love to see the Buckskin Gulch Slot Canyon. According to the BLM, it’s one of the longest continuous slot canyons in the world!

If you have more time in Southern Utah, here are 9 more jaw-dropping things to see near The Wave.

If you have more time on your road trip, consider visiting all 5 of Utah’s National Parks. (Called ‘The Utah Mighty 5’.) Click here for a Mighty 5 Road Trip Itinerary (which includes Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Arches National Park).

Please leave us a comment below!

Is the Wave on your bucket list? If so, let us know when you’d love to win a permit and what you’re most excited about seeing! If not, what’s the next bucket list activity you hope to complete on your list?

Save this itinerary for a future road trip

Hover over the image below and click on the red “Save” button that pops up in the upper lefthand corner of the image to save this on Pinterest for later. (If you’re on mobile, you might have to tap the image first to see the red ‘Save’ button.)