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 for 48 people a day, where you apply during one month for a date four months later, and a separate daily lottery for the other 16. The advance draw runs on the 1st of each month at 9:00 AM MT.
At a glance
| Do you need a permit or reservation? | Day-use hiking permit |
|---|---|
| Cost | $6 per application (non-refundable) + $7 per person if drawn |
| How to get it | Enter the advance lottery four months before your travel month. |
| When it opens | Monthly lottery · Draw on the 1st · 9:00 AM MT |
| All-inclusive alternative | None we can recommend: no tour we checked includes this access, so the official channel is the way in. |
| Official rules | recreation.gov |
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.
- 4Watch the BLM’s safety and route video linked from the permit page before you go.
- 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
- Build flexible days into the trip: the daily lottery gives you another chance for each day you are in the area.
- 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
Is there an official success rate?
The permit page does not publish one. It does give the numbers behind it: 64 people a day, 48 from the advance lottery and 16 from the daily one, with a maximum group of 6.
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.