The Wave is a wild playground made of rolling hills of ancient Navajo sandstone. The Wave is named for its rounded water-like contours, and flowing streaks of red. This other-worldly formation dates back 190 million years to the Jurassic age. The Wave’s rippling “waves” of warm color contrasting with bright blue skies make it a magnet for landscape photographers.
The Hike
Due to its appeal —and its fragile nature—permits are limited to only 20 lucky people a day (see lottery information below).
The lucky few who get to see it enjoy an exciting hike . The shortest but most challenging hike to The Wave is approximately three miles across open desert from the Wire Pass Trailhead, climbing up about 350 feet. Other longer but less strenuous hiking options exist, but all of them are unmarked by paths or signage and require navigation.
Lottery Information
Applications for the Daily Lottery can only be submitted from within the designated geofence, according to the following schedule. You will need to have an account set up before you can apply. To get started, go to Recreation.gov and sign up.
Lottery Schedule:
- Day 1 – Application: Apply between 6 AM and 6 PM two days ahead of the desired entry date. Lottery results are sent out at 7:15 PM this evening. Window opens to accept winning lottery.
- Day 2 – Safety Briefing: Successful applicants must accept the permit and pay fees by 8 AM Utah time and be onsite at a permit pickup location with photo ID at 8:30 AM local time for a safety briefing. Local time may be different between pick-up locations. During Daylight Savings, 9:30 in Utah is 8:30 in Arizona (except the Navajo Nation).
- Day 3 – Permit date: Permit-holders have the day to explore Coyote Buttes North.
How Does the Quota Work for this Permit?
The quota for this permit is measured in persons and/or groups visiting the area per day. A daily maximum of 64 people are permitted to visit Coyote Buttes North.
- 16 people and/or 4 groups (whichever comes first) are awarded through this Daily Lottery.
- 48 people and/or 12 groups (whichever comes first) are awarded through the Advanced Lottery, a separate process than this geofence Daily Lottery.
- The maximum group size for both lotteries is 6 people.
- Everyone, regardless of age, must be included in the permit. This includes infants that are not walking.
- Dogs do not count against the quota, but must be included on the permit and require a fee. Dogs are added during the permit confirmation process following a successful lottery application.
- If a group obtains a permit and hires an authorized guide, the guide will not count against the group size or the daily visitor limit. Groups are limited to one guide each.
Applications can only be submitted via a mobile device (ex. smart phone, internet-connected tablet) through the Recreation.gov mobile app or a browser.
Advice from the Bureau of Land Management
Step 1: Download the Recreation.gov Mobile App
Take time to install the Reacreation.gov mobile app ahead of time. Be aware that cell service is spotty in this region. This lottery is also available by visiting www.recreation.gov on your mobile device browser.
Step 2: Permit Information & Timelines
- Search “Coyote Buttes North Daily Lottery (The Wave)” on Recreation.gov.
- Visitors must enable location services on mobile devices and be within the near 2.1 million-acre Wave Daily Lottery Geofence perimeter to apply. Desktops and laptops cannot be used. See map for boundaries.
- Two days prior to desired hike, visitors apply between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.* on the Recreation.gov app, located in the geofence-area perimeter. At 7:15 p.m.* the same day, successful applicants will be notified. Permit winners have until 8 a.m.* the following day to log back into Recreation.gov to claim and pay for permits. On Day Two, winners claim permits at pickup locations at 8:30 a.m.* and attend a safety brief. On Day Three, winning applicants hike The Wave.
Step 3: Apply & Track Award Status
- Ensure you are within the geofence perimeter. Open the Recreation.gov mobile app or navigate to Recreation.gov on your mobile device browser and search for “Coyote Buttes North Daily Lottery (The Wave).”
- Remember: The daily lottery application period is two days in advance of the desired hiking date. Example: If you want to hike on Friday, you will need to apply on Wednesday.
- Applicants will receive notification of results late on the application date. Check the email address associated with your Recreation.gov account for your notification or log into your Recreation.gov account to view your award status. Notification will occur the same evening of application.
- Successful applicants will need to log into Recreation.gov to accept the awarded permit and pay permit fees before 8 a.m.* the next day (the day after you applied). If you do not accept and pay for your permit by 8 a.m.* it will be forfeited. Example: If you applied Wednesday, you need to accept and pay for your permit before 8 a.m. Thursday to hike on Friday.
- At 8:30 a.m.* the day before your awarded hike date pick up your permit in person at the location you selected when confirming your permit AND attend the mandatory safety briefing. Enjoy your hike the next day!
Keep in Mind
- Turn on location services and ensure you are within the geofence perimeter to apply to the lottery.
- Receive notification, accept, and pay for your permit from any location. Be sure you are in cell service to receive lottery notification, and can accept and pay for your permit. Missed deadlines result in a forfeited permit.
- You do not need to be in the geofence after the initial lottery submission.
- *There are multiple deadlines to be aware of! Application submission, confirmation, and payment deadlines are on the time in Utah and the Navajo Nation. Permit pick-up and orientation deadlines are on local time.
For additional information, please visit the BLM webpage: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/arizona/coyote-buttes-north.