Hiking to The Wave in northern Arizona is among the most memorable experiences we’ve had since starting this travel blog in 2018. Winning a permit set our hearts racing but laying eyes on those smooth, vibrant and swirling sandstone patterns at the end of the trail seriously blew our minds.
In this guide we show you exactly how to hike the unique and amazing The Wave Trail in Arizona, based on our experiences.
Our Experience
Not long before the end of our road trip from Seattle to Sedona in December 2021, we left Zion and headed for Kanab. It was back when dozens of applicants turned up at a gym in Kanab each morning hoping to win a next day Wave hiking permit. We struck gold on our first attempt and promptly sat through a safety briefing. Early the next morning we drove to Wire Pass Trailhead and hiked to The Wave.
The trail itself was easier than we expected. Maybe the intense permit process and safety brief hyped it up? Anyway, we followed instructions on a paper map provided by the BLM and arrived to find just one other person at the climax. And it was truly astounding. Photos (including ours in this guide) don’t get close to doing this place justice. So, you’ll just have to see it in person! Read more about us.
READ: 10 places you can’t miss near Kanab
What You Need To Know
Okay, let’s dive right in! Here are the most important things you need to know about hiking The Wave:
- You must win an advanced or daily lottery hiking permit
- Advanced lottery runs 4 months out (apply January for May)
- Daily lottery runs 2 days out (apply Friday for Sunday)
- Permits for hikers cost $9 per person
- Dogs can be included to your permit for $7 per dog
- Attach the permit to your backpack and your car dashboard
- You can hike any time of day and for as long as you like
- You’ll start and end at Wire Pass Trailhead
- The trailhead is in Utah but The Wave is in Arizona
- The road leading to the trailhead can flood
- You will not be able to hike if the road is flooded
- The trail is not clear, obvious or marked
- You’ll be provided with a paper trail map with directions
- We found the instructions very easy to follow
- But you can hire a guide if you’re not confident
- The Wave is also known as Coyote Buttes North
- It’s located inside Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
The Wave is the most difficult hiking permit to win in the US because it’s limited to a maximum of 64 hikers per day and thousands of people apply for each day, so the chances of winning are slim. We’ve written a separate guide about winning a permit to hike The Wave, which explains the process and how you can give yourself the best chance at winning.
Trail Information
- Distance: 6 miles+ roundtrip
- Type: Out and back
- Difficulty: Moderate/hard
- Time: 3-4 hours
- Elevation Gain: 450 ft+
- Trailhead: Wire Pass
- Dogs Allowed: Yes
We’ve hiked hundreds of trails around the world, so we have plenty of reference points for rating the difficulty of a hike. And our honest opinion is that The Wave Trail is technically an easy hike, but it increases in difficulty because of its pathfinding and map reading aspects. Sure, you’ll need to be in reasonable shape, but it wasn’t as physically challenging as we expected.
Now, there are sandy and uneven or steep rocky sections, and it’s also totally exposed to the elements which could be a problem with heat in the summer or ice in the winter. But it’s only 3 miles each way and the elevation gain isn’t too strenuous. If you’re a regular hiker, we don’t think you’ll have any problems with the trail as long as you’re confident about following map directions.
Tip: At the end of the hike near The Wave you can climb higher and explore further, but you’ll add technical difficulty, distance, elevation and time to your hike.
Using Offline Maps
At the safety briefing, we were instructed not to use AllTrails, GAIA or similar hiking navigation apps as our main source for directions because the rock formations would wreak havoc with our GPS. We’re not the type to take risks, so we studied our paper map and used it for our entire hike. And figuring out the route was honestly so much easier than they hyped it up to be.
But we always use GAIA Premium (here’s our exclusive link to get 20% off) to download offline maps when we hike unmarked trails, so we were interested to see how it would work on this trail. It ended up working fine for most the hike but we did lose our GPS marker just as we were about to arrive at The Wave. Then it came back again as we were hiking back to the trailhead.
Wire Pass Trailhead
The Wave Trailhead is located at Wire Pass (here’s the Google Maps location), which also doubles as the trailhead for Buckskin Gulch. Wire Pass is located 8.3 miles down House Rock Valley Road from highway 89, which you’ll take whether you stay in Kanab or Page. It’s a large parking area with plenty of spaces, vaulted toilets and a wilderness register which every hiker must sign.
House Rock Valley Road is the only way in and out of accessing the trailhead, but it’s made of clay and gravel which effectively turns into sludge when wet. If it rains heavily and the road becomes impassable, you will not be able to hike The Wave and you can’t change your date. It would be incredibly unfortunate, but it’s been known to happen.
Keep an eye on weather forecasts for Kanab and if it looks clear you should be fine in a two-wheel drive car. If it’s wet, you might want to hire a high clearance four-wheel drive to see how bad it is. But even high clearance vehicles won’t make it after significant rainfall. It was dry when we drove the road in our SUV and even then it was a bumpy ride. Here’s the BLM site for more about Wire Pass.
Trail Map
Are you feeling nervous about figuring out the route? We took a screenshot of the landscape on Google Maps and edited it with directions and landmarks, which will help orientate you with the hike. It’s important to note here that you should skip past the map below if you think you’ll be fine with the directions because it will take the fun and thrill out of pathfinding on the day.
Map key:
- Orange – Wire Pass Trailhead
- White – Key directions and landmarks
- Red – Major photo spots at the end
- Dotted line – Hiking route to The Wave
Note: Only use our map above if you want to learn the route before you hike. And do not use it during your hike because you should be using the paper map provided by the BLM.
Walkthrough: Our Hike To The Wave
Okay, let’s walk through our hike so you know exactly what to expect:
1. Park And Register
We set off from Kanab before sunrise and turned off highway 89 onto House Valley Rock Road just as daylight broke. It was a cold and dry morning, and there hadn’t been any rain so the road was passable. We arrived at Wire Pass Trailhead as the third car in the lot. One group was heading into Buckskin Gulch and the other car had one hiker who was on the trail to The Wave before us.
We left our permit on the dashboard of our SUV, grabbed our gear and attached the green permit tag we received at the safety briefing to one of our backpacks. Next, we quickly used the vault toilets and then we filled in the hiker registration book before setting off with our paper map.
2. Wire Pass Wash
We walked east out of the parking lot and crossed House Rock Valley Road to a narrow dirt path with a brown wooden sign. After maybe 150 feet we reached a very obvious dry creek bed. We turned left (heading North) and followed the meandering creek bed for around half a mile until we saw a sign marked with Coyote Buttes North. Here, we turned right and walked up a steep bank.
Note: If you miss this right turn you’ll end up at Buckskin Gulch, so make sure you keep an eye out for the spur trail leading off to the right side of the dry creek.
3. The Saddle
For the next half mile we gradually descended through a picturesque sage field with soft sand underfoot. The trail was easy to follow and there were footprints in the sand to reassure us. Up ahead we could see a shallow rocky ridge, which was higher on the right side and lower on the left side. We kept the left central side of the ridge in sight, crossed another dry creek and climbed up the easiest part of The Saddle.
4. Twin Buttes
From The Saddle onward we were in the permit-only Coyote Buttes North wilderness area. Heading due south, we aimed for two pointed domes called Twin Buttes. They were impossible to miss so we relaxed through this early part of pathfinding with the paper map. Underfoot, the trail was exclusively slanted rock faces which could be treacherous if there’s ice on the ground.
Tip: There are some small sign posts with arrows pointing towards Twin Buttes. So it’s not actually as unmarked as claimed!
5. The Crack
It doesn’t matter which way you pass through or around Twin Buttes but we went straight through the middle. (The BLM permits you to climb up the buttes, so Mark obliged on the way back). After the twins, we walked due south for three quarters of a mile aiming for a significant crack at the top of an enormous formation directly ahead of us. The trail here was flatter with rocks and sand underfoot.
6. Sand Dune
Continuing to aim for the crack, we eventually arrived at a steep sand dune which carried us up to rocks with swirling patterns so we knew we were getting close now. This sand dune climb was the most physically challenging part of the hike because it’s steep and the sand is very soft. You could go around on the rocks instead but we recommend just going straight up the dune because it’s safer.
7. The Wave
At the top of the dune we took a right turn and saw an opening maybe 100 feet away. Immediately after entering we were met by otherworldly patterns, vibrant swirls and pristine sandstone layers. There was a shallow pool of water on the ground so we grabbed a few photos, before heading into the main chamber. The only other person ahead of us was nowhere to be seen, so we had it all to ourselves.
8. The Second Wave
We knew The Wave was the star attraction, but we were keen to explore the surrounding areas before it got busier with other hikers. So we dashed around to The Second Wave, which was completely different but equally as spectacular. It had exquisitely detailed lines and sediment colors, so we spent a few minutes grabbing more photos here.
9. Climb Higher (Optional)
Okay, at this point you can either take things easy and explore the natural areas close to The Wave or you can climb higher and explore further (only for experienced hikers). We were on a bit of a time crunch and we wanted to take photos of the main areas, so we didn’t fan out into the surrounding wilderness. Here’s what else you can see nearby:
- Top Rock Arch
- The Alcove
- Hourglass Rock
- Melody Arch
- South Teepees
10. Dinosaur Tracks
Instead, we went back to The Wave. The sun had moved around so the whole formation was glowing, but it was busy with other hikers. We grabbed a few more photos then descended the steep sand dune, took a left turn, climbed a fair way up a sloping rock face and aimed for horizontal red and white layers ahead. Then we scanned the ground for dinosaur prints and took photos of our hands next to them.
Tip: If you’re using GPS coordinates, use 36° 59′ 57.3″ North, 112° 00′ 35.6″ West (source) to find clear prints.
11. Boneyard
Next, we kept heading south for another 0.3 miles until we reached The Boneyard, which is also called Fatali’s Boneyard after the photographer who named it. We knew we’d arrived when we could see striped lines of brown and yellow, along with box or lace rocks scattered across the landscape.
Tip: You can continue into Sand Cove after Boneyard, but it requires crossing uneven surfaces and large rocks. You’ll find what feels like a slot canyon with swirling patterns and at the far side it rejoins the steep sand dune.
12. Return Journey
Navigating back to the trailhead using the same landmarks was easy, so we didn’t need our paper map. We’d also met three other hikers and spent the whole return leg exchanging stories about where else to visit in the American southwest. It was much warmer on the way back, so we made sure to save lots of water and electrolyte drinks. Back at the trailhead, we signed the register with our return time.
Taking Photos Of The Wave
Okay, you’re going to be absolutely blown away by the topography, so make sure you take home plenty of photos. The Wave and its surrounding formations are some of the most photogenic natural landscapes we’ve ever seen, and we’ve seen a lot of the world.
The main formation has three arms shaped like a triangle with three points (⅄):
- North arm – Where you’ll first arrive and find the shallow pool of water for reflection photos.
- Southeast arm – The iconic photo spot looking directly through the curving formation.
- Southwest arm – The narrowest entry reflects intense light once sunlight fills the formation.
We arrived into the north arm at the shallow pool of water not too long after sunrise, so sunlight hadn’t yet penetrated this part of the formation. Any later and there would have been lots of deep shadows contrasting with intense highlights.
Inside the main part of the formation, we did arrive before the whole thing was in direct sunlight which meant our photos had these contrasts. By the time the formation lit up entirely, many more hikers had arrived so it was harder to take photos.
Tip: Everyone was courteous and helped each other with photos the day we hiked, but we have read lots of negative comments about people taking over the main photo spots and not moving for others. We hope you have a reasonable bunch the day you hike!
When To Hike
One question you must be wondering is: what’s the best time to hike The Wave Trail? In truth, the best time is anytime you can win a permit. That’s where we’d start. Keep applying until you win.
But let’s say you apply once and win. Which month should you apply for a permit? We’d say April and May are the two best months of the year because they have comfortable daytime temperatures but more importantly they’re the months with the least chance of rain. And it’s rain that closes the trailhead road. With that said, the favorable conditions mean more people apply so it’s even harder to win a permit.
July and August are hot, cloudy and they have the highest chance of rain. So they’re the last two months we would try to win permits. We hiked The Wave in December and had perfect conditions. It started out cold but it soon warmed and we had a clear sunny day. Plus, fewer people are applying for permits, so you stand a better chance of winning.
In terms of the time of day, it’s entirely up to you. There’s no time limit on your permit, so you could go at 6:00am or 6:00pm. What we will say is most of the 64 permitted hikers will hike it first thing in the morning, so it’s probably much quieter if you go in the afternoon. We set off from the trailhead around 20 minutes after sunrise and only one other person was there when we arrived.
Where To Stay Nearby
You’ll probably need a place to stay nearby when you hike The Wave. The two obvious choices are Page, AZ and Kanab, UT. We’ve stayed at hotels in both towns and from experience we can assure you either of them will do the job.
They each have lots of very affordable hotels and quality places to eat, and they’re about equidistant from Wire Pass Trailhead. But if we had to choose, our preference would be Kanab because it has a more relaxed vibe and everything is walkable within the town.
Here are some of the top rated hotels in Kanab:
READ: 12 excellent hotels in Kanab Utah
And here are some of the top rated hotels in Page:
READ: 10 great hotels in Page AZ
The Morgan Conclusion
What we like: First and foremost, this trail has of the most unique climaxes in the world. Kanab and Page work great for lodging, there’s plenty of parking at the trailhead and very few hikers each day adds to the lost world feel. The hike itself is fun and picturesque, and the map reading element adds another layer of excitement. We’d definitely do it again!
What we don’t like: The permit is so hard to win (here’s our guide to winning the permit), the road leading to the trailhead can become totally impassable after bad weather and the whole hike is completely exposed to the elements with barely any shade. Otherwise, there’s really not much to dislike. It has a 4.9/5 rating on AllTrails, but we’d give it a 5/5.
Is The Wave worth it? Yes! The Wave is one of the most sought after hikes in the US because it leads to such a unique and special climax. Winning a permit is incredibly difficult, but trust us, even if it takes you several applications it’s well worth the effort. This is a trail every keen hiker and photographer should do at least once.
More From Kanab
- Hiking to Kanab’s Dinosaur Tracks
- How to find Belly of the Dragon
- How to hike Buckskin Gulch
- Visiting Coral Pink Sand Dunes
- How to hike Toadstool Hoodoos
- Visiting Moqui Cave Museum
- Hike to Moqui Cave Sand Caverns
Want more Utah content? Head over to our Utah Travel Guides to explore the Mighty Five National Parks and beyond.
We hope our guide to hiking The Wave helps with planning your visit to northern Arizona!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.
Thanks for the write up! To see the other landmarks at the Wave, particularly Melody Arch and the Alcove, which are at the top of the mountain, what route do you recommend taking?
Straight up scramble? To the Second Wave, then Boneyard and around? Opposite? Any suggestion would be helpful.
Very excited to go! (Oct. 5, 2023)
Hi Steven, glad to hear you will be hiking The Wave next week. When you get to The Wave you can make your own path around the entire area and there is no real “path” to the other landmarks. With that said, we would suggest going to the Second Wave and heading straight up (carefully!) from there. Boneyard is in a completely different area that you should do afterwards just before leaving, along with Dinosaur Prints. Have a fantastic time!
I have an on-line permit for the Wave for Monday, May 8, 2023. I will be driving to Kanab from Las Vegas on Sunday, May 7th. Do I need to check in for a safety briefing before heading to Wire Pass? Can I check in on Sunday?
Thank for your time,
Steve Wirick
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Hi Steve, glad to hear you will be hiking The Wave. When you win an advanced lottery permit, you are not required to attend a safety briefing the day before hiking the trail. However, we do highly recommend going to it if possible because they will give you updates about the weather and any appropriate safety issues. If you have any questions or concerns, call the BLM phone number for advanced lottery permit holders and they will be able to help you out. Have a fantastic hike!
Really confused. How do I get my wife signed up on the advanced lottery? I put her email down as an alternate permit holder. Is that how?
Hi Robert, yes it is quite confusing, they could definitely do a better job being more clear with instructions. The way we read it is that if you have put your wife’s name down as an alternate permit holder on your permit application, she will receive an email within 72 hours and has to create an account on reservation.gov to accept the alternate position. Once your wife confirms as an alternate, the wording on recreation is “an alternate may not be able to reserve another permit or be an alternate for another permit at this facility for this season” which to us sounds like your wife will not be able to apply for a whole new permit or be on any other permit as an alternate. It is to stop groups applying for loads of permits and being each others alternates. One way to play it is to apply for a permit each but not put each other down as alternates, as long as you are 100% sure you will be there in person for the hike as the permit holder. Hope that helps and best of luck!
Thank you for an excellent writeup on hiking The Wave. Really helpful and informative.
Thank you, Jenn – Hope you are able to win a permit and hike to The Wave sometime soon.