Changes To Permits For Hiking 'The Wave' Arizona

PHOENIX — The Bureau of Land Management has transitioned from the Arizona Recreation Online Permit System to Recreation.gov for managing reservations for Coyote Buttes North, also known as "The Wave,"in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area.

Of the over online 200,000 permit applications to visit the landmark each year, only 3,650 are granted. This is because only 20 people are permitted entry to The Wave daily, 10 from online reservations and 10 from walk-in entries.

The new online system will offer "24/7 customer service and improve website security, efficiency and reliability in booking reservations," according to a media release.

Currently, the online system is the only way to obtain a permit to visit Coyote Buttes North. Due to COVID-19, the onsite lottery entry option is currently unavailable. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, showing-up for an in-person daily lottery was a second way to enter the permit lottery system.

The software shift does not make it easier to obtain access to the site. The Rereation.gov website for The Wave is modernized and intended to provide a better user experience and improved accuracy for online bookings.

Applicants must enter the lottery for the first of the month, three months prior to the month they want to visit. For example, those wanting to visit for any date in October would need to enter the July 1 lottery. Applicants can submit entry anytime during the preceding month. To enter the July 1 lottery, applicants need to submit their application between June 1 - 30.

Lottery entry fees are $9. Applicants can choose up to three people as alternate permit holders, in the event that the applicant cannot attend on their selected date. If chosen, applicants will receive email confirmation that they must validate within 72 hours.

When applicants are prompted to apply using Recreation.gov, they are given warnings to consider. Some of them are shared below.

• Permits cannot be rescheduled, even when conditions are poor
• 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 or not all group members have enough experience to navigate in this area.
• If you have concerns about navigation, 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.