Overview
The Wave, in Coyote Buttes North, is capped at 64 people per day to protect the sandstone. That scarcity makes it one of the toughest permits to win in the American Southwest.
Access is split between an advance online lottery, run four months ahead, and a daily geo-lottery for people already in the area. Both go through recreation.gov, and both are long shots.
How the permit works
- 1Enter the advance lottery four months before your travel month.
- 2If you miss, enter the daily geo-lottery from within the surrounding zone.
- 3Winners get a specific date — you can’t reschedule it.
- 4Attend the mandatory safety briefing or watch the online version.
- 5Print the map; there’s no marked trail and no cell signal.
Required documents
- recreation.gov account
- Photo ID matching the permit holder
- Printed permit and route map
Insider tips
- The daily geo-lottery often has better odds than the advance draw — build in flex days.
- Spring and fall bring safer temperatures; summer heat here is genuinely dangerous.
- Have a backup hike booked so a missed lottery doesn’t sink the trip.
Sold-out alternatives
If your dates are gone, these get you a comparable experience.
Frequently asked questions
How low are the odds really?
On popular months the advance lottery can run in the low single digits. The daily geo-lottery is often kinder, especially midweek and off-season.
Is there a trail?
No. You navigate by map and landmarks across open sandstone, so download the route and carry a printed copy.
Can I visit without a permit?
No. Rangers check permits and fines are steep. If you miss, take a nearby no-permit alternative instead.
