The Wave: Maximizing Your Chances to Win Permits
Winning a permit to the iconic Wave is not easy but it’s well worth the effort to get out there. It’s one of our favorite places to photograph in the Southwest and certainly qualifies as a bucket list experience! According to data obtained from the Bureau of Land Management, 200,589 people applied for wave permits in 2019. Of those, only 7,300 people received permits or about 3.5% of applicants. So, what can you do to give yourself the best chance of winning when you apply?
There are two ways to apply for permits; the online lottery and the daily lottery. The online lottery is available each month, with winning applicants drawn on the first of the following month. You can apply for a “daily permit” via Recreation.Gov Permits two days in advance of your trip date. Applications are only allowed via a phone or mobile device, you cannot apply on a desktop computer. The GPS on your phone needs to be turned on, and you must be within the “geofenced” area of Northern Arizona/Southern Utah to apply.
Online Lottery
Let’s cover the online lottery first. 48 people or 12 groups (whichever comes first) are available via the online lottery for each day of the month. Here are some things you can do to help you win:
- Apply every month.
- If you can’t apply every month, apply for the least popular months.
- Reduce your group size for better odds. Max group size is 6 people.
When you apply online, you are selecting up to three dates, four months in advance. For example, when you apply in January, the drawing will be for dates in May.
Here are the months ranked from most popular to least popular in 2019:
- April (most popular)
- May
- March
- October
- September
- June
- November
- August
- July
- December
- February
- January (least popular)
Use the following link to apply for your permits as well as view the BLM’s rules and regulations regarding the area. Coyote Buttes North Online Lottery
Daily Permits
If you are unsuccessful in getting a Advanced permit for Coyote Buttes North, you can apply for a “daily permit” via Recreation.Gov Permits two days in advance of your trip date. Applications are only allowed via a phone or mobile device, you cannot apply on a desktop computer. The GPS on your phone needs to be turned on, and you must be within the “geofenced” area of Northern Arizona/Southern Utah to apply. This area includes the towns of Kanab, Page, Big Water, Fredonia, Glendale, and Jacob Lake. The map below shows the geofenced area.
Day 1 – Application: Apply between 6 AM and 6 PM Utah time two days ahead of the desired entry date. Lottery results are emailed at 7:15 PM Utah time the same evening.
Day 2 – Safety Briefing: Successful applicants must be on site at the permit pick-up location to accept the permit and pay fees by 8AM Utah time. A safety briefing follows at 8:30AM. There are 2 pick-up locations: Kanab; Kanab Center, 20 N 100 E. Page; Page-Lake Powell HUB, 48 S Lake Powell Blvd,
Day 3 – Permit date: Permit-holders have the day to explore Coyote Buttes North.
The Wave is an astounding location, but remember, it’s not the only attraction in the Kanab area. After using the above suggestions to win your permit, make sure you explore the surrounding area. Also keep in mind that if you do not win, your visit to Southern Utah is not wasted, there are may other fantastic areas to visit.
Here at Action Photo Tours, our priority is making sure you get the most out of your trip to Southern Utah. Whether visiting the Wave or finding alternatives, our knowledgeable guides will maximize your time at these beautiful locations. Sign up for a tour today and see the best of Southern Utah!
The Wave Tour – https://actionphototours.com/the-wave-tours/
Alternative Tours – https://actionphototours.com/utah-photo-tours/
Enjoy your visit and good luck!