The Wave is one of the most iconic hikes in the American Southwest. The sandstone geology in this area makes it look like another planet. The orange, pink, tan, and white ribbons resemble taffy being pulled, and it’s hard to fathom how something like this was created, almost 200 million years ago.
This otherworldly rock formation actually began as sand dunes, which were then compressed over time to create Navajo Sandstone. Millions of years of rain and wind then created the unique landscape that we see today. It’s wild to think about how this will continue to evolve over time.
The elements and human visitation all have an impact on this fragile surface, which is why it’s so highly protected with permits. The number of daily visitors is limited to 64, making it one of the hardest hiking permits to get in the United States.
It’s estimated that only 3% of applicants will win a permit, but there are a few things you can do to help your chances. And if you win, some important things to be aware of for your hike. Both of which we’ll cover in detail below.
Important Information to Know Before You Apply
Prior to submitting your application, there are a few important things to consider, including road conditions to the trailhead, where to camp nearby, physical demands for hiking, and the best time of year to visit.
Getting to the Trailhead
There is only one trailhead for The Wave, and it is located down a dirt road, where conditions can (and do) regularly change.
Car Requirements: Depending on the season, you may need a high-clearance 4×4. If there is any chance of rain or snow, the dust on this trail will quickly turn to that red Utah clay, which can be tricky to navigate in any vehicle. There have been numerous reports of people being rescued on this road after getting stuck. It’s always best to check with the local field office on current road conditions the day before your hike.
Start Early: No matter the season, it is best to try to start your hike as early as you can. Getting here early will not only help you beat the crowds, but it will also be cooler if you’re hiking in the spring/summer months, and the lighting on the rocks is absolutely stunning in the morning. It changes as the sun gets higher, and you’ll see a wide variation of beautiful colors and shadows.
If you’re coming from either Kanab, UT or Page, AZ expect it to take you a little over an hour to reach the trailhead (road conditions permitting). However, if you have camping gear, we’d recommend staying overnight nearby, which brings us to our next section.
Camping by The Wave Trailhead
There is a great, free Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campground a couple of miles south of the trailhead, Stateline Campground. Because of the remoteness, this campground is incredibly busy and fills up quickly with others wishing to hike or explore the nearby areas.
We got there at around 2:00 pm mid-week in March, and snagged one of the last remaining campsites. We saw countless vehicles drive in and turn around after all the sites were taken.
If you’d like to camp here, we suggest getting there pretty early in the day and mid-week (if your permit allows). There are no trash services, water, or electric hookups here, but there are some decent pit toilets. You will need to pack out all your garbage.
Physical Hiking Requirements
Getting to the Wave requires a 6.5-mile round-trip hike, rated as “hard” on AllTrails. There are various reasons for this rating, and we can’t disagree with it.
First, the majority of the hike is over dunes, sandstone, and incredibly uneven terrain. There are lengths of time where you’ll be walking at an angle, which takes a toll on your ankles and knees. Additionally, this also means that there isn’t much in the way of a marked trail, so some route finding is necessary (but more on that later).
Second, there is about 1,000 feet of elevation gain on this hike, a lot of which is when you are approaching the Wave. There is a steep section of sandstone, and you might need to use your hands in a couple of areas.
Lastly, the entire hike is exposed with zero shade. In the summer months, it can get incredibly hot. When we hiked this in March, it was in the mid-60°s F (15° C), and it still felt pretty warm. Plan accordingly and bring a ton of water (2 liters is recommended per person) to ensure that you don’t overheat.
Best Time of Year to Hike The Wave
Because of how warm this area gets, we recommend hiking it in the cooler months (October through April). Of course, this also comes with its own set of cons, mainly because the weather can be unpredictable, making it impossible to reach the trailhead on the remote dirt road.
Given that we have only hiked here once (in March), we can’t speak to all the other months. However, we do believe that March was a wonderful time of year to explore this area.
How The Wave Permit Lottery Works
The permit lottery system is run through recreation.gov. Each application needs to be submitted online, and there are two different ways you can do this: the Advanced Lottery and the Daily Lottery. We’ll cover both types in detail below.
Regardless of how you submit your application, you will need to pay a $6.00 application fee (as of April 15, 2026) each time you submit. If you are awarded a permit, you will then have to pay a $7.00 permit fee for each person hiking. For example, the total cost for our permit with two people was $6.00 for the application fee + $14.00 for the permit fee ($7.00 x 2 people) = $20.00. Of course, that doesn’t count the dozen or so other times that we submitted a $6.00 application fee and weren’t awarded a permit. There are no refunds if you don’t win a permit.
In total, there are only 64 people who are awarded a permit to hike each day. It can be frustrating if you are trying to win a permit because it is incredibly competitive, but it is also great if you do win, and you only have to share the trail with 63 other people.
(It’s important to note that there are no walk-up permits. They used to have a system for this in the past, but have since done away with it. These are the only two ways to get permits.)
Advanced Lottery
For the advanced lottery, a total of 48 people and/or 12 groups (whichever comes first) are awarded permits.
To apply for the advanced lottery, you’ll need to submit an application four months in advance of when you’d like to hike. For example, if you want to hike in March 2027, you would need to submit your application in November 2026. The application can be submitted at any time during the month of November, and you’ll select up to three preferred dates for your hike in March.
On the first of the following month (in the example above, December 1st), you’ll receive an email at 9:00 am local time with your results. If you were selected for the permit (congratulations!), the email will tell you which of the three dates you selected you have been awarded. You will need to log in to recreation.gov by the 15th of the month (i.e., December 15th), claim your permit, and pay the remaining permit fees. If you weren’t selected, you can try again for the following month.
Pro Tip: For the best chances, select dates in the winter months that are mid-week and not around holidays.
Daily Lottery
This is how we won our permit, and tried a dozen times before we finally won. We heard this can be a bit of a harder way to win, but for us, it made the most sense, since we rarely know where we are going to be four months in advance.
For the daily lottery, a total of 16 people and/or 4 groups (whichever comes first) are awarded permits.
To apply for the daily lottery, you will need to be within a specific “geofence zone.” This ensures that you are in the area and will be able to pick up your permit and hike on such short notice. You can find a map for the geofence area here.
You’ll apply two days before your desired hiking date between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm local time. At 7:15 pm that day, you’ll receive an email notification letting you know if you were awarded a permit or not. If you did win a permit (congratulations), you’ll need to log in to recreation.gov and pay the remaining permit fees by 8:00 am the following day.
You’ll also need to physically pick up your permit at 8:30 am the day before your hike in either Kanab, UT or Page, AZ field offices. At the same time, you’ll attend a mandatory safety briefing, which is well worth it.
For more on the permit process and general information, make sure to visit recreation.gov. They will also have the most up-to-date information, since fees, dates, etc., can change.
Hiking to The Wave: What to Expect
Congratulations! You won a permit to hike to The Wave! Consider yourself incredibly lucky and get ready for one of the most incredible hikes you’ll experience. There are a few important things to know about how to prepare, what to bring, and the trail, which we’ll cover below.
Leave No Trace
First and foremost, this is an incredibly special place, and you are one of the few who will get to experience it. It is of utmost importance that you are a good steward of the land so future generations can continue to enjoy it. Make sure to follow all Leave No Trace Principles. Most importantly, pack out all your waste (including human), don’t carve into the rock, leave it how you found it, and respect others on the trail.
How to Prepare
A couple of months before your hike: If you won the advanced lottery, you are in a great position to make sure you are in the best physical shape to take on this hike. If you’re not already, start incorporating a couple of hikes each week that have some elevation gain, working your way up to 6-mile hikes with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain and loss.
The day before: Attend the 8:30 am orientation at either the Kanab, UT or Page, AZ field offices (this is mandatory for Daily Lottery winners). You’ll show your ID to pick up your permit, receive a map with picture references for route-finding, and attend a safety briefing. Regardless of whether you won the Advanced or Daily Lottery, this briefing was incredibly informative, and we suggest that everyone attend.
We also highly suggest that you download the trail map on your phone through AllTrails. There is no cell service in the area, so downloading it on your phone prior to arriving at the trailhead will allow you to track your progress and keep you on the trail throughout the day.
The night before: The morning of the hike is going to feel like Christmas, and it’s a good idea to make sure you have everything you need so you’re not scrambling first thing. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be eager to get on the trail. These are the things that we made sure we had the night before for a fun day hiking:
Lightweight Backpack: You’ll want something comfortable to hold your map, water, snacks, cameras, sunscreen, first aid kit, any layers you need, and of course, your permit and ID. This Patagonia backpack is light, holds everything I need, and has great organization.
Electrolytes: Given the length, elevation gain, and exposure on this hike, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re replenishing with electrolytes mixed into your water. Just Ingredients are our favorite for all our hikes (and at home). Save 10% with our code ADVENTURE.
Good Hiking Boots: Because the terrain is so uneven along this hike, it’s wise to have hiking boots with good ankle support. We’ve worn our Danner boots for years. They’re not only lightweight, but the most comfortable boots we’ve found with the least amount of break-in time.
First Aid Kit: I’m sure you are going to have the most amazing time, and nothing is going to happen, but it is always best to be prepared. Having a simple first aid kit in your pack can save you from painful blisters, a cut, or worse, getting evacuated. We never hike without an Adventure Medical Kit on us.
Sun Hoodie: A light-weight sun hoodie is the best way to keep the sun off of your skin while also staying cool. These Patagonia sun hoodies regulate your temperature, move with your body, and dry quickly.
Satellite Communicator: Keep in mind, there is no cellular service on this trail. If something were to happen and you needed to call for help, it could be hard to get. A reliable satellite communicator offers that peace of mind if you don’t have the SOS option on your phone.
A few other items you may want to consider include a hat (or some other way to keep your head shaded), sunglasses, and trekking poles. If you do bring trekking poles, make sure that they have rubber tip protectors, as the metal tips can create unsightly marks on the fragile sandstone (and we did see some).
Hiking the Trail
Now for the fun part, getting out on the trail! When you arrive at the trailhead, you’ll need to sign in on the register (which they’ll cover at the safety briefing) and make your way to the trail. We won’t be going over the exact specifics of the trail in this blog post, but a few basic things to know.
Navigation: As mentioned, there is no cellular service in this area. You’ll be relying on maps and GPS to keep you on track. People do regularly get lost out here, so it’s important to take this seriously.
Make sure that you have the paper map with picture references that you either received in the mail with your permit or at the safety briefing. This was a huge help in identifying landmarks and keeping us headed in the right direction.
We also recommend downloading the map on AllTrails before you get to the trailhead (there is no service at the trailhead). When you’re on the trail, you can put your phone in airplane mode and still use the GPS signal to navigate where you are. There are also a few other features shown on AllTrails (like arches, dinosaur tracks, and other rock formations) that are not otherwise shown on the paper map.
Getting an Early Start: If you can, try to begin your hike at sunrise. You’ll encounter the least amount of people, it will be cooler, and the lighting on the rock formations is stunning. We started the hike at about 7:00 am and were back at our van by 11:00 am. In total, we took about 4 hrs, and that included lots of time to take pictures, record video for our YouTube film, enjoy a snack, and explore the area.
Enjoying The Wave: After almost 3 miles of navigating over dunes and sandstone, you will be standing at the base of a rock wall, which is your final ascent into The Wave. Be careful here, as the sand on the rock can be a bit slippery.
With a little steep climb, you’ll be at the mouth of The Wave in no time. I wish I could put into words just how cool the feeling is once you’re here, but it’s something you’ll have to experience for yourself.
Walk into The Wave and up on top of it. From here, look back at where you came from, and you’ll see the Instagram-worthy shot that circulates around on the internet.
Because we started so early, we were the first ones to reach The Wave that day and enjoyed it for a good 20-30 minutes before any other hikers showed up. It was so peaceful and special to have this place all to ourselves.
After others arrived, we made our way up onto the side and out of the way of pictures, so everyone could have their moment. I think it’s important to be mindful of fellow hikers here and only take as many pictures as you need so everyone can get their chance and experience this beautiful place. We have heard not-so-great stories from people spending 30 minutes to an hour doing full-on photo shoots and blocking it from everyone else. No one wants to be that person.
Take it all in and enjoy how lucky you are to be here and how hard you worked to get it. It is something that you’ll remember forever, and for many, it is a life-changing experience.
Bringing a Dog
While dogs are allowed on the trail (they need to be included on the permit and require a separate fee), use your best judgment for your dog’s safety. We have a very healthy 14-year-old Aussie/Lab mix, but decided to leave him in our cool van while we were on the trail. This trail is very exposed; you’ll need to carry extra water; and, pack out all of their waste. Additionally, the sandstone can be tough on their paws if they’re not used to it, so make sure to bring booties so they don’t tear up their pads.
Final Thoughts: Is Trying to Get a Permit to The Wave Worth It?
Absolutely, and we hope to be back again!
We count ourselves incredibly lucky to be among the 3% of applicants who are awarded permits to hike here. It is one of the most unique hikes we have been on and something we’ll cherish forever.
We hope you get the opportunity to hike The Wave as well. If you’ve submitted an application, been before, or just wanted more information, please let me know in the comments if this post was helpful. I’d love to hear from you!
Want to watch our full hiking adventure to The Wave? Click here.
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