The Wave Permit: How We Won the Lottery Twice

Honestly, getting The Wave permit is the hardest part of hiking The Wave. By comparison, the hike itself is a few hours across sand and slickrock. After all, the permit is a lottery that most people lose, often for years in a row.

Even so, we have applied twice and won twice. The first time was eleven years ago, back when only 20 people per day were allowed in: ten through the online lottery and ten through the walk-in lottery in Kanab. Most recently, the second time was for October 2026. I know that is luck and not skill, and I will be honest about that throughout this guide.

What I can give you is a clear picture of how The Wave permit process works in 2026, which lottery to choose, when your odds are better and the small mistakes that cost people a permit they already won.

Let’s get into it.

How The Wave Permit System Works in 2026

The Wave sits in an area called Coyote Buttes North, in the Paria Canyon Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness on the Utah and Arizona border. Strictly speaking, however, you do not get a permit for The Wave. Instead, you get a permit for Coyote Buttes North, and The Wave is the most famous spot inside it.

The Bureau of Land Management allows a maximum of 64 people or 16 groups per day, whichever comes first. Those spots are split between two lotteries, both run through Recreation.gov:

• Advanced Lottery: 48 people or 12 groups per day, drawn about four months ahead. You can apply from anywhere in the world.
• Daily Lottery: 16 people or 4 groups per day, drawn two days ahead. You have to be physically in the area and apply from your phone.

Also note that the old in-person walk-in lottery in Kanab, with the bingo balls and the crowded room, ended in 2022. Everything is online now. Apart from that, there is no other legal way in. Self-pay permits at the Wire Pass Trailhead only cover Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon, not Coyote Buttes North.

The Wave Advanced Lottery: How We Won Twice

In fact, both of our permits came from the online lottery, now called the Advanced Lottery. If you are planning a trip from Europe or anywhere far away, this is the one to focus on, because you can apply from home and plan flights and hotels around the result.

How to Apply for The Wave Permit Online

1. Create an account on Recreation.gov and search for “Coyote Buttes North Advanced Lottery (The Wave)”.
2. Apply during the calendar month that is four months before the month you want to hike. For our October 2026 permit we applied in June.
3. Choose up to three dates within that month. They do not have to be consecutive. This time we only had two dates that worked with our trip, and it still worked out.
4. Enter your group size (maximum six people, including babies) and up to three alternate permit holders.
5. Apply with your legal name, because you may be asked to show ID that matches your application. Then pay the non-refundable $6 application fee by credit card. Without it, your application does not count.

The draw happens on the first day of the following month and you get the result by email. If you win, you have to log in, confirm the permit and pay a second fee of $7 per person (and $7 per dog) by the 15th of that month. If you miss it, the permit is gone and it does not go back into the pool.

Once you have paid, the BLM mails the physical permit to your home address, together with the route description. Plan on it arriving roughly six weeks before your hike date.

Tip: Put a reminder in your calendar for the first of the month and another one a few days before the 15th. Above all, missing the payment deadline is the easiest way to lose a permit you already won.

What to Do If Your Wave Permit Does Not Arrive

The first time, the permit made it all the way to Switzerland without any problem. This time it did not. This time, however, our hike date got closer and closer, and the envelope never showed up.

We wrote to the BLM at blm_az_asdoweb@blm.gov, and Luke, a friendly ranger, answered quickly. As it turned out, the permit had been mailed to the wrong postal code. The solution was simple: we could pick up the permit in person the day before our hike at a visitor center in St. George, Kanab or Page.

We chose Kanab, went during the official opening hours and picked up our permit without any problem. Our hotel, the SpringHill Suites, is almost next door, which made it even easier.

So if your permit has not arrived about four weeks before your trip, do not wait and hope. Contact the BLM right away, double check the address in your Recreation.gov account and plan time for a pickup on the day before your hike. Check the opening hours of the visitor center before you go.

The Wave Lottery Rules That Trip People Up

First of all, each person can only take part once per month, with one Recreation.gov account and one email address. Creating extra accounts with different email addresses to get more entries is not allowed, and anyone who submits more than one application is disqualified. You can be on one application per month, either as the applicant or as an alternate. If you list your partner as an alternate, they cannot apply on their own that month. If you want two chances, each person applies separately with their own account and does not list the other.

The permit holder or one of the listed alternates has to be on the hike. In addition, permits cannot be sold, transferred or changed after the draw, not even the group size. And you cannot hold two Coyote Buttes North permits at the same time.

The Wave Daily Lottery: The Backup Plan

If you are already in southern Utah or northern Arizona, the Daily Lottery gives you a second shot. It works on a three day rhythm:

• Day 1: Apply in the Recreation.gov app or mobile browser between 6 AM and 6 PM Utah time. Location services must be on and you must physically be inside the geofence, a virtual area that roughly stretches from Page in Arizona to the east side of Zion. Once you have applied, you can leave the geofence. Results arrive at 7:15 PM the same day.
• Day 2: Accept your permit on Recreation.gov. The permit holder then has to pick it up in person at 8 AM and attend the safety briefing at 8:30 AM. The location is in your email from Recreation.gov, so check it carefully. Do not be late, or you lose your permit.
• Day 3: Hike.

The application fee for the Daily Lottery is $9 and you can apply once per day. If you have a few flexible days in Kanab, you can enter every day. Just remember that you cannot apply from a desktop computer and that cell service gets patchy outside town, so apply while you still have signal.

Tip: Download the Recreation.gov app and log in before you drive to Kanab or Page. You do not want to set up an account with one bar of signal on the last afternoon.

The Wave Lottery Odds: What You Are Really Up Against

Unlike in the past, the BLM does not publish current odds. Under the old system, online odds were around four to five percent in most months, with much better chances in January. Since 2021 there are more permits per day, but the number of applicants has kept growing too.

What is clear, however, is the seasonal pattern. Spring and fall (roughly March to May and September to November) have the most applicants and the best hiking weather. December to February has the fewest applicants but brings cold, short days and sometimes snow or a muddy road. Summer has fewer applicants because the heat is brutal.

Today 64 people per day can hike The Wave, compared to 20 when I first went. That sounds like a lot more room, but many people still apply for years without winning. That is why our October win, with only two dates on the application, was against the odds. My first win, eleven years ago, came when only ten spots per day went to the online lottery. I tell you this not to brag but so you know that it does happen, and that it is still mostly chance.

How to Get a Wave Permit: My Honest Tips

There is no trick that guarantees a permit. In other words, anyone who sells you one is selling a story. These are the things that actually make a difference:

• Apply separately. If you travel as a couple or group, each person applies with their own account and email address, without listing each other. One account per person, never several. More applications mean more chances.
• Use all three dates. There is no reason to pick only one.
• Avoid peak periods. Weekends, holiday weeks and the peak spring and fall months are the most crowded. If you can travel in winter or early summer, your chances improve.
• Combine both lotteries. Apply to the Advanced Lottery and plan a few buffer days in Kanab so you can try the Daily Lottery if you lose.
• Watch your inbox. Check your spam folder on the first of the month and pay right away if you win.
• Check your address twice. Our permit ended up at the wrong postal code. Make sure your address in Recreation.gov is exactly right, and contact the BLM early if nothing arrives.
• Hike Buckskin Gulch. It starts at the same Wire Pass Trailhead as The Wave and needs no lottery, just a day use pass of about 6 US dollars per person. It is at the top of our list for next time.
• Have a plan B. Coyote Buttes South has similar swirling sandstone, fewer visitors and 20 permits per day that are much easier to get. There are no designated trails there and you need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, or you book a Coyote Buttes South tour*.

Hiking The Wave in Arizona: What to Expect With Your Permit

At the trailhead parking lot we met Hank, a volunteer. As soon as we got out, he came over and asked where we were headed. One look at the pink permit tag on our backpack answered that. Later we learned that Hank comes out every month and has been to The Wave 37 times. In short, people out here know this place by heart, and they do pay attention to who has a permit. Keep your permit tag visible on your pack the whole time, and put the pink parking tag that comes with your permit on the dashboard before you start.

At the Wire Pass Trailhead you also sign in to the trail register with your destination and an emergency contact. Do not forget to sign out when you are back. If you do not, a search team is sent out in the evening.

Hiking The Wave Without a Permit: Not Worth the Fine

Of course, some people try to walk in without a permit and hope nobody notices. Please do not. The permit area is signed, and the sign we passed warned of fines of up to $100,000 and up to six months in prison, and it says the area is patrolled daily. Fines of more than $1,000 per person have already been handed out, and rangers and volunteers do check permits out there.

The permit also covers all of Coyote Buttes North, not just The Wave itself. So “I only wanted to see the area around it” does not work either. Carry your ID along with your permit, because you may be asked for both.

The hike itself is around 6.4 miles round trip on a mostly unmarked route across sand and slickrock. Navigation, water, the best time of day and everything there is to see around The Wave would fill a whole guide, so I wrote one.

► Read our full guide on The Wave hike: trailhead, route, difficulty and what to see

Where to Stay Near The Wave

Kanab is the best base for The Wave. It is the closest town with a good choice of hotels and restaurants, the drive to the Wire Pass Trailhead takes about an hour, and the visitor center where you can pick up a permit or attend the Daily Lottery briefing is right in town. Page in Arizona works too, but Kanab is more practical for most itineraries.

We stayed at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Kanab and I would book it again. It is new and modern, has a pool and a whirlpool with views of the red cliffs, and it is almost next door to the visitor center. That was very convenient when we had to pick up our permit the day before the hike.

Kanab also works well as a base for other hikes nearby, like Peekaboo Slot Canyon and the Great Chamber, so it is worth staying a few nights.

► Read next: Peekaboo Slot Canyon in Kanab

► Read next: The Great Chamber near Kanab

Check Rates at SpringHill Suites*

Get Ready for Your Trip to The Wave

Book Your Accommodation

For Kanab I use Booking.com*. Our hotel was the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Kanab*. I also cross check on Hotels.com* and Expedia*. For cabins and vacation rentals, check Vrbo*. Compare rates on Kayak*, and when the big sites show sold out, I check Agoda*.

Book Your Flights and Rental Car

For flights and rental cars into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City I compare on Kayak*. For House Rock Valley Road a car with some clearance makes life easier, especially if there has been rain.

Book Tours and Activities

Did not win a permit? In that case, guided tours are a great plan B. For White Pocket* you need no permit, just a tour or the right 4WD. A Coyote Buttes South tour* also needs a permit, so check the tour details before you book. For all other tours around Kanab, I look on GetYourGuide* first.

Pack the Right Gear

Good hiking shoes, a hydration pack with at least four liters, sun protection and an offline GPS app are the basics. You can find all of it at any outdoor store or on Amazon.

Advertising: affiliate links. No extra cost to you.

The Wave Permit: Frequently Asked Questions

💵 How much does The Wave permit cost?

The application fee is $6 for the Advanced Lottery and $9 for the Daily Lottery, and it is not refunded if you lose. If you win, you pay an extra $7 per person and $7 per dog. Check Recreation.gov for current fees before you apply.

📅 How far in advance do I apply for The Wave permit?

For the Advanced Lottery, you apply during the month that is four months before your hike month. For example, apply in June for an October date. The Daily Lottery is two days before your hike.

🌍 Can I apply for The Wave permit from outside the US?

Yes, for the Advanced Lottery. However, the Daily Lottery requires you to be inside the geofence near Kanab and Page.

🚫 Can I hike The Wave without a permit?

No. The permit area is signed, rangers check permits and the sign at the boundary warns of fines of up to $100,000. Self-pay permits at Wire Pass do not cover Coyote Buttes North.

📬 Is The Wave permit mailed to me?

Yes, for the Advanced Lottery the BLM mails it to your address, even abroad. If it does not arrive, contact the BLM. In our case we picked it up at the visitor center in Kanab the day before the hike.

✏️ Can I change the date or group size after I win?

No. Once the draw has run, the date, permit holder and group size are fixed.

My Final Thoughts on The Wave Permit

In the end, The Wave permit is a lottery, and no guide can change that. However, what  you can control is applying smart, being flexible and not losing a win through a missed payment. I got lucky twice. If you keep applying, your turn can come too, and the hike is worth every attempt.

Apply early. Pay on time. Check your mailbox. Check availability in Kanab here* as soon as you win, because hotels fill up fast in peak season. Happy travels.

Check Out My Other Utah Travel Guides

Great Chamber Kanab: The Giant Sand Cave
Kanab Utah Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
The Wave Hike: Trailhead, Route, Difficulty and What to See
Peekaboo Slot Canyon Kanab: Our Self-Drive UTV Tour
Kanab Hotels: Where to Stay, Honest Picks
Things to Do in Kanab: The 10 Best Adventures
Kanab Itinerary: My Perfect 3 Days
Best Time to Visit Kanab: Season by Season
Is Kanab Worth Visiting: My Honest Verdict
Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon: 7 Trails I Actually Hiked
Belly of the Dragon Utah: The Ribbed Tunnel Near Kanab
Bryce Canyon National Park: My Complete Guide
USA Travel Guide: Road Trips, National Parks and Islands