Permit Coyote Buttes South
Everything about the desired permits
General information about the permits for the Coyote Buttes South
A permit is required to visit the Coyote Buttes South (CBS) area. This must be purchased before the visit. Every day 20 of these permits are issued. Each permit is valid for one person. 10 of these permits/day are allocated four months in advance by online lottery. A further 10 permits are drawn daily, also online on site. If you are caught without a permit in the CBS area, you can expect hefty fines. BLM rangers check the area regularly.
Also because of the somewhat more complicated and difficult approach to the trailhead, it is somewhat easier to get permits here than for Coyote Buttes North. Nevertheless, one should not rely on it. Again, the more flexible you are, the better your chances of getting a permit. Also for the Coyote Buttes South the groups are limited to max. 6 persons.
Note: Even if you plan to go on a guided tour with a commercial tour operator, everyone needs a permit. The permit of the tour guide is bound to a valid permit of the tour participant. This means that if you don't have a permit, you can't join a guided tour. You can't get a permit from the commercial tour operators and they can't get you a permit either.
Online Permits
Every month, permits for 10 people/day are drawn online.
There is a calendar system for the permits. First, you have to register on the website of www.recreation.gov The 10 permits are released on the first day of each month, four months in advance, for the entire permit month. For example, all permits for June are released on March 1. All permits for July are released on April 1, and so on. If you want a specific date, you should be ready at your computer when the dates are released. If you are flexible, you can usually still get permits a few days after they are released. The photo below shows an example of the calendar for June 2026, taken on March 2, 2026. Permits for Coyote Buttes South are not raffled off. If there are no permits available in the calendar, they have been taken for that month.
Then you pay a $6 registration fee and $5 per permit by credit card. Once you have received your confirmation email, you just have to wait... After about 4 to 6 weeks, your permit will be sent to you by mail. Don't worry, the permit will arrive...
But even in case you don't get the permit for some reason, you don't have to panic. Since the permits are not transferable, you can also pick up your permit personally on site, because the name is registered.
Walk in Permits
The on-site raffle has also been converted to an online system. – This raffle only works with a cell phone using the corresponding app or a browser!!!
Timing of the permit drawing:
Day 1: You can register for the on-site permit draw online via the recreation.gov app from 6 am to 6 pm. To do this, you have to be in a certain area. This area can be found on this map . Essentially, it covers Kanab and Page and the area in between. Registration must always take place two days before the desired hiking day to the Wave. At 7:15 pm you will be informed by email whether the lottery was successful and you have won a permit.
Day 2: If successful, you must accept and pay for your permit by 8 a.m. and arrive at one of the two pick-up locations at 9 a.m. for a safety briefing.
Permits can be picked up at the following locations:
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument VC, 745 East Highway 89
or
Page-Lake Powell HUB, 48 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040
Please note that Arizona has a different time zone from March to November. The pickup times refer to the time in Utah!!! I.e. during Daylight Saving Time 8am Utah time is 7am in Arizona.
Day 3: If you were lucky enough to win a permit on day 1, today is the day of the hike to Coyote Butte South.
Costs: Registration costs $6/group - If you win a permit, the permit costs $5/person.
Permits that are not picked up or canceled expire and are not returned to the calendar.
A few more general notes:
Before setting off, you should always check the road conditions. There are several ways to get to the trailhead. After the turnoff from House Rock Valley Road, the route becomes very challenging. At times, it can be very sandy and rocky. Everyone should be aware that this is not a route for inexperienced drivers. A vehicle with high ground clearance and 4×4 drive is strongly recommended. In addition, a GPS track is essential to find the right way. Everyone drives off the paved road at their own risk and is not insured in the event of an accident (check the terms and conditions in the rental car agreement!!!).
If you want to hike at the South Coyote Buttes in summer, you should be prepared for extreme heat. There is almost no shade along the entire trail! If you don't feel confident driving to the trailhead yourself or finding your own way, you can also hire a guide. There are several providers in Page, but especially in Kanab.
We wish everyone good luck!!!
If you want to get a taste of what to expect on the hike to the Wave and the area around it, you can read here what we have experienced.