The Wave Arizona

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One of the most frequently asked questions about your Wave Tour is: How do I actually get a permit for The Wave? Because access to Coyote Buttes North is strictly limited, understanding the permit process isn’t just useful — it’s essential.

The Wave is located in a fragile, undeveloped wilderness area where only 64 people total are allowed in each day — 48 through the advanced lottery and 16 through the daily lottery — to protect the landscape and preserve the experience for all visitors. 

There are two official ways to obtain a permit to hike The Wave. Both are conducted through Recreation.gov, the federal platform that manages public land permits across the U.S. 

The Advanced Lottery is your best bet for securing a permit if you’re planning ahead. It opens exactly four months before the month you want to hike, and you have the entire month to enter. 

How it works:

• You choose up to three possible dates for your hike in one application.
   
• The lottery runs on the first day of the following month (e.g., apply January 1–31 for a May hike).
   
• Recreation.gov notifies winners by email, and you have a window to accept and pay the permit fee.
   
• Permits are then mailed to you about 4–6 weeks before your trip date.
   

Important rules:

• Only 48 people or 12 groups are selected per day for advanced lottery permits.
   
• Everyone in your group (including infants) must be included.
   
• Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
   

If you weren’t successful in the advanced lottery or didn’t enter, you can still try your luck at the Daily Lottery — but this one has a catch.

The Daily Lottery is geofence-based, meaning you must be physically within a designated geographic area around the Vermilion Cliffs (including towns like Kanab, Page, Big Water & Fredonia) on the day you apply. That’s why this lottery is often called the geofenced daily lottery. 

The multi-day Daily Lottery timeline:

1. Day 1:
   Between 6 AM and 6 PM local time, you apply for the Daily Lottery on Recreation.gov via the mobile app or browser — only if your phone confirms you’re within the geofence. Desktop/laptop browsers are not accepted for this step.
    
2. Evening of Day 1:
   Results are emailed later that day (typically around 7:15 PM). Make sure you check spam folders and have good cell service during this period.
    
3. Morning of Day 2:
   If you win, you must accept and pay the permit fee by 8 AM local time the following morning.
    
4. Permit Pickup & Safety Briefing:
   You pick up your permit and attend a mandatory safety orientation at a designated location (often in Page, AZ or Kanab, UT) around 8:30 AM local time. After this briefing, your permit is valid for the next day — your actual hike day.
    

⚠️ Remember: The Daily Lottery really takes three days from application to hiking day — application, briefing, then hike. 

Because these lotteries are competitive, many visitors try strategic approaches to improve their odds. Here’s what experienced Wave hopefuls and travel guides recommend:

For the Advanced Lottery, entering every month increases cumulative chances over time. Nearly everyone who wins has applied multiple times before succeeding. 

When entering the Advanced Lottery, use all three date options your application allows — this gives you three chances instead of one. 

Spring and fall are peak competitive months. Winter months like December through February often have fewer applicants, which can make the odds slightly better. 

If you’re trying the Daily Lottery, base yourself in a town like Kanab or Page for multiple days so you can apply repeatedly while within the geofence. 

Make sure your phone’s location services are enabled and you’re within the designated boundaries before you attempt to apply — Recreation.gov will check your GPS location. 

Daily Lottery notifications come in the evening and you only have a short window to claim and pay the permit fee the next morning. Check your email immediately after applying. 

Despite all strategies, luck still plays a big role — and even experienced adventurers can go years without winning. But persistence, smart planning, and knowing exactly how the system works can dramatically improve your odds and your ability to actually use the permit when you get it. 

While The Wave is the headline attraction, Coyote Buttes North is packed with extraordinary formations that many unguided hikers miss entirely. A private guided tour opens the door to a much richer experience.

*Depending on conditions, timing, and group ability, additional sites may include:

A lesser-known but equally photogenic formation featuring sweeping lines and bold colors—often quieter than the main Wave.

A vast bowl of sculpted sandstone, offering incredible scale and texture with very few visitors.

A delicate sandstone arch hidden within the folds of the buttes, accessible with experienced route-finding.

A field of fractured sandstone slabs, scattered like fossils across the desert floor—an absolute dream for photographers.

A dramatic arch perched high above the surrounding terrain, offering sweeping views and a true sense of discovery.

These locations are not marked, signed, or obvious. Knowing where they are—and how to reach them responsibly—makes all the difference.

*While it is our goal to maximize your day in the permit area, adding these extra sites is not guaranteed, as some of them require moderate climbing/scrambling and may not be suitable for all groups. We will factor time, skill level, and weather conditions to determine safety and feasability of these extra attractions. 

The hike to The Wave is approximately 6–7 miles round trip across sandy washes, slickrock, and uneven terrain. While not technical, it does require:

• Good physical conditioning
• Comfort hiking in desert environments
• Proper footwear and attire
• Proper hydration and nutrition

A guided tour includes pre-hike planning advice to ensure you’re fully prepared for the conditions.

Many destinations impress. Few transform. The combination of limited access, raw wilderness, artistic geology, and profound quiet makes The Wave something truly rare.

For travelers who value:

• Authentic adventure
• Crowd avoidance
• Meaningful exploration
• Exclusive access to protected landscapes

…a private Wave tour in Coyote Buttes North stands as one of the finest experiences in the American Southwest.