Coyote Buttes North Daily Lottery (The Wave)

Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

Important Information:

If you are planning to visit Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), there are only two possible options to get a permit.  

The Coyote Buttes North Daily Lottery (The Wave) - apply on this website

or

The Coyote Buttes North Advanced Lottery (The Wave) – apply to Advanced Lottery here 

Quick information about the Daily Lottery.

• Applications must be submitted two days before your hike during the lottery application window (6am - 6pm)
• You need a mobile device to apply – desktop or laptops will not work. Out of date Recreation.gov mobile apps will cause issues with payment.
• You must be in the geofence area to apply (see map) 
• 16 people and/or 4 groups (whichever comes first) receive permits through this Daily Lottery   

Quick information about the Advanced Lottery.

• Applications are submitted 4 months in advance of the hike date (see website for the current month) 
• Enter the Advanced Lottery at this site - apply for Advanced Lottery here 
• You can apply from anywhere or any device
• 48 people and/or 12 groups (whichever comes first) receive permits through this Advanced Lottery    

It is your responsibility to understand this information before applying for a permit. There are no refunds for lottery applications or permits, and permits cannot be rescheduled for any reason.

The lottery system is based on the time in Utah and the Navajo Nation. There are multiple deadlines to be aware of: submitting the application, accepting the lottery, picking up your permit. Carefully review the chart under Important Dates to see details concerning time zones.   

Overview of Coyote Buttes North

Coyote Buttes North is just a small part of the 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but the permit area has some of the most visually striking geologic sandstone formations in the world, including the “Wave”. 

Coyote Buttes North Permit Area is within a backcountry, undeveloped wilderness area and does not contain any developed trails or facilities. Permit-holders are given a route description, which includes a route map, photo guide, and GPS coordinates along the suggested route to the Wave. The hike to the Wave is a physically demanding 6.4 mile round-trip hike. Permit-holders should be in good physical condition and be comfortable navigating in undeveloped areas.

The road that accesses the permit area is unpaved and minimally maintained. Most of the time, it is possible to reach the trailhead in a two-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle. However, four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles may be required when the road is wet. During the rainy season and the winter, the road may become impassable for all vehicles, even those with four-wheel drive. Be aware that cell service is spotty in this region.

Notifications and Alerts

• There are multiple steps and deadlines to be aware of: submitting the application, accepting the lottery, and picking up your permit. Missing any deadline will void your successful permit award. Refer to Lottery Information for details. Carefully review the chart under Important Dates to see particulars concerning time zones. The lottery system is based on the time in Utah and the Navajo Nation.

Permit & Season Information

A permit is required to visit the Coyote Buttes North permit area, which features “The Wave”. Permits are distributed by lottery, either through this Daily Lottery, two days ahead of the permit date, or through the Advanced Lottery four months ahead of the permit date.  

Application submissions to the Daily Lottery are limited by a geofence. To apply, a group member must be within the geofence during the application window of 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, two days before the permit date.  

The lottery is held daily.  

There are multiple steps and deadlines to be aware of: submitting the application, accepting the lottery, and picking up your permit. Missing any deadline will void your successful permit award. Refer to Lottery Information for details. Carefully review the chart under Important Dates to see particulars concerning time zones. The lottery system is based on the time in Utah and the Navajo Nation.

Need to Know

Permit Information

 Permits are non-refundable. Permits cannot be rescheduled for any reason.

• Each individual may submit only one application per lottery. 
• Cannot concurrently hold more than one permit for a permit area.  
• Permits are valid only in the Coyote Buttes North permit area for the group size and date specified. They are not valid for other permit areas such as Coyote Buttes South or Paria Canyon Overnight.
• Violators of group size may be cited if limit is exceeded. Joining with those on a separate permit to exceed 6 is prohibited.
• If a group obtains a permit and opts to retain an authorized outfitter and guide service, the guide will not count against the group size limit or the total visitor limit for the given day. Parties limited to one guide each.
• Authorized commercial operators may also reserve permits for trips they lead. They compete equally with non-commercial users. If a guide service obtains a permit, the guide will count against the group size.  

Safety is your responsibility!

• Permits are issued for every day of the year, but changing conditions mean that access is not always safe or possible. Before applying, consider what the weather and road conditions are likely to be.  
• Permits cannot be rescheduled, even when conditions are poor. If you receive a permit for a day with unsafe conditions, you must choose whether to use the permit. Your safety is your responsibility. 
• Extreme heat and lack of shade between May and September, along with the absence of drinking water, have led to fatalities in this permit area. During the rainy season, heavy rainfall can cause extreme flash flooding. This can lead to impassable roads and dangerous hiking conditions. Winter visits may involve hiking on ice-covered sandstone and exposure to cold.
• There are no trails in the Coyote Buttes North permit area. Permit holders are offered an orientation and a route description, but the route itself is unmarked. Before applying, evaluate whether all group members have enough experience to navigate in this area. If unsure, consider hiring an authorized guide.
• The suggested route to the Wave is a strenuous 6.4 mile round-trip hike. Consider the physical abilities and fitness level of all group members before applying. 
• The road that accesses the permit area is unpaved and minimally maintained. Most of the time, it is possible to reach the trailhead in a two-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicle. However, four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles may be required when the road is wet. During the rainy season and the winter months, the road may become impassable for all vehicles, even those with four-wheel-drive.
• Call 911 in case of a life-threatening emergency. Cell phones are unreliable in this area but may be able to reach 911 even when other numbers do not work.  

Rules and Regulations

• Use of motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment, and the launching and landing of drones, is prohibited in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. (eg. bicycles, skateboards, strollers)
• Visitors must register at trailheads when entering or leaving the area.
• All group members must stay together.
• Coyote Buttes North permit area is designated day use only. Overnight camping is prohibited.
• Dogs are allowed, but they must be included on the permit and kept under control at all times. Waste must be packed out.
• All natural and cultural objects are protected. 
• Defacing surfaces and cutting or trampling vegetation is prohibited. 
• Harassing or feeding wildlife is prohibited.
• Campfires and burning of trash are prohibited. All trash, including toilet paper, must be carried out.
• Recreational use of horses or pack stock is not permitted.
• A Special Recreation Permit is required in addition to the recreation permit for all commercial uses such as outfitters or organized group guided trips where there is a fee charged. 

Fee Policy

Application Fee: A non-refundable $6.00 lottery fee is required for each lottery application.

Recreation Fee: If selected in the lottery, a recreation fee of $7.00 per person or dog is required. This fee is paid online when filling in additional information to complete the process after successfully winning. Everyone, regardless of age, must be included in the permit. This includes infants that are not walking. Payment of recreation fees is only required if a permit is awarded through the lottery. 

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy: All fees are non-refundable. If a permit is cancelled, it does not return to the pool.

Change Policy: There will be no change or modification allowed to permit dates, applicant name and group size following the application process. The only way to modify these details is to cancel the first application and submit a new one, which will require an additional payment of the $6.00 application fee. 

If the primary permit holder cannot make the trip on the permit date and is not present, the permit is invalid.

Contact Information

Mailing Address

669 S. Hwy 89A Kanab Utah 84741

This is not a permit pick-up location. See the Getting Here section for details.

Phone Number

(435) 644-1200

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