The Wave Tour
Other Paria / Vermillion Cliffs Tours
Single Travelers & Private Tours
We can always accommodate single travelers via private tours. Often times, we are also able to combine a single traveler with other scheduled parties; please give us a call at 435-644-5506 to discuss the latter option.
Private Tours are available to be booked online.
We go out of our way to open the wonders of the West to EVERYONE.
We are permitted, licensed, and insured.
Dreamland Safari Tours holds Special Use Permits from the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument/Paria Wilderness, Kanab Bureau of Land Management and Arizona Strip Bureau of Land Management.
Don’t see your preferred departure date or time available via online booking? Give us a call.
For sunset or sunrise at our more remote locations, we recommend a scheduled or custom overnight or multi-day tour – and we are happy to work with you to develop an itinerary that meets your needs.
All listed tour durations and pickup times are approximate. Please allow 10-20 minutes of pickup time flexibility for unforeseen circumstances and varying pickup logistics. Water and snacks are provided on all tours. A lunch meal is included on all tours of 6+ hours. Vegetarian option available.
We reserve the right to fill all empty seats on non-private tours. Cancellation / Reschedule / Weather policy applies.
Please familiarize yourself with our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS before contacting us.
Contact us
To contact us with other specific questions or begin Making Reservations click the “Book Now” Button on each tour page or click Contact Us for info on how to give us a call or shoot us an email.
Price
Private Tour Upgrade Available?
Tour Length
Departure Times
Difficulty (1-10)
Recommended abilities
Permits
Location
Attractions
Special Interests
These FAQs are specific to this tour. If you would like to view our general FAQs CLICK HERE.
1. How difficult is the hike to the Wave?
The round-trip hike is just over 6 miles (9.5 kilometers) if you take the most direct route to the Wave and back. Our tours typically cover about 8 miles so we can visit other spectacular sites. There are long stretches of deep sand to trudge through and an elevation gain of about 500 feet on the trek. There are a few steep inclines, loose footing, and often you will be hiking on uneven sandstone with one foot higher than the other while you hug the side of a steep sandstone ridge. Decent cardio fitness, leg strength, some amount of endurance and good balance are needed. Harsh weather is another factor to consider. This is a particularly windy spot that makes the winter chill even colder. Ice and snow make the uneven hike quite slippery. In the summer, the sun is relentless, heating the ground until the radiant heat rises from the earth while the sun shines from above. There is virtually no shade.
2. How do I get a Wave permit?
In March of 2021 the BLM radically increased the number of permits issued to 64 permits for 64 people, or 16 groups, whichever comes first. 48 of those permits, or 12 groups, whichever comes first, are issued via an online lottery 3-4 months in advance. Only 16 permits for 16 people, or permits for 4 groups, whichever comes first, are issued the day before at the walk-in lottery. All of the specifics of the permit process are explained HERE.
3. Can I book a Wave tour without a permit?
Yes, you can book book a Wave tour with us even if you do not have a North Coyote Buttes permit. Our booking system will ask whether you have a permit; simply answer, “no.” We will enter the in-person lottery on your behalf the day before your trip to try to get you a permit. The odds of winning are less than 10%. If we don’t score a Wave permit, your tour will visit one of two alternates: South Coyote Buttes or White Pocket. South Coyote Buttes also requires a permit though it tends to be much easier to get than the Wave, but if we aren’t able to secure a South Coyote Buttes permits, your trip will visit White Pocket. All three are world class hiking and photography destinations in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
4. I am staying in Page. Where can we meet?
We offer pick-up service to any hotel, vacation rental or RV Park in Kanab, Utah, but we do not pick up in Page, Arizona. If you are staying in Page, we can arrange a meeting point halfway between Page and Kanab. Normally, this meeting point is at the intersection of Highway 89 and Houserock Valley Road, which is about 45 minutes west of Page, and is right on the way to the Wave. If you book an 8 a.m. tour, that is the time the tour departs Kanab, Utah. We would leave at 8 a.m. and meet you at 8:45 a.m. at Houserock Valley Road. Keep in mind that Page is in Arizona, which does not observe daylight savings time. So, from spring through fall, the time in Arizona is one hour earlier than in Utah, where our company operates. So, if our tour left Kanab at 8 a.m. (Utah time) and met you at 8:45 a.m. (Utah time), this would be 7:45 a.m. Arizona time and you would need to leave Page by 7am. Daylight savings time starts sometime in mid-March and usually runs to the middle of November.
5. Is there a bathroom at the Wave?
There is a pit toilet at the trailhead to the Wave. Otherwise, there are no facilities in the wilderness area. While hiking to and from the Wave, you may duck behind a tree or bush for privacy whenever necessary. All solid waste should be packed out and our guides carry WAG bags for this purpose, as well as toilet paper, hand wipes and plastic bags. Do not leave any trash on the ground. This is a wilderness area and must be kept pristine. Paper must be bagged up and can be discreetly discarded into the trash bag at the truck.
6. Are drones allowed at North Coyote Buttes?
No. North Coyote Buttes is a designated wilderness area and drones are illegal.
To read more FAQs that are common to all of our tours, visit our FAQs page.
Guest Experiences on the Wave Tour
Single Travelers & Private Tours
We can always accommodate single travelers via private tours. Often times, we are also able to combine a single traveler with other scheduled parties; please give us a call at 435-644-5506 to discuss the latter option.
Private Tours are available to be booked online.
Get the most of your Wave experience! If you are lucky enough to get your paws on a permit to hike the 6-8 miles of Coyote Buttes North and the Wave, consider The Wave Tour guided by Dreamland Safari Tours.
The undulating strata and spectrum of colors found in the sandstone walls of the Wave date back to the Great Pangean Desert of the Jurassic Period about 160-180 million years ago. Wind and water erosion carves, smooths, and reveals the layers of sand left here in great dunes and then compacted and mineralized (colors) into stone. While the Wave is a smooth, polished bowl of striped wind-swept sandstone, the same exotic rock is displayed in numerous forms, shapes, colors, and patterns throughout the guided hike to the Wave in North Coyote Buttes.
With the Wave Tour you get all of the following:
- Comfortable, safe, year-round, high clearance, 4×4 transportation for up to 6 passengers on rough, unpredictable House Rock Valley Road
- A homemade picnic lunch.
- Knowledgeable tidbits about the geology, ecology, and history of the area. Guided Hiking through the easiest and most scenic routes to the neatest alternate and subtle Points of Interest including Dinosaur Tracks, Fatali’s boneyard (Lace Rocks), Sand Cove, Second Wave, Cheeseburger Rock, and other bizarre and colorful rock formations. These are areas the unguided rarely see. We do not typically go up to Top Rock or Top Arch due to time & difficulty of the ascent. We may make exceptions for very fit groups.
- Guided photography and tips at dozens of locations.
- Personal Safety- We help prepare you, keep you on track, and make sure you are safe in the Paria Canyon Wilderness. Our guides have basic Medical Training and satellite communications in case of emergency.
Elevation change, uneven footing, and sand across a long distance (typically 7-10 miles!) make the terrain on The Wave Tour difficult. Please be prepared for hiking in difficult conditions. Daypacks are necessary especially in summer when our guide alone cannot carry enough water for everyone to safely complete the hike. Boots are highly recommended. Please carefully consider your age and physical abilities especially during the hottest months of the year: June, July, August. This tour is especially difficult in the heat.
SPECIAL PERMITS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE WAVE TOUR AT NORTH COYOTE BUTTES. DREAMLAND DOES NOT PROVIDE ADVANCE PERMITS OR HAVE AN UMBRELLA PERMIT. ONLY OUR GUIDES ARE COVERED BY OUR PERMIT. WHEN OBTAINING PERMITS ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO ADD OUR GUIDES TO THE TOTAL NUMBER. UPON REQUEST, AND WITH AN ALTERNATE TOUR PLANNED, DREAMLAND MAY BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE LOTTERY IN YOUR STEAD. THIS IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY TO OUR GUESTS ONLY WHEN STAFF IS AVAILABLE. PERMITS ARE NEVER GUARANTEED.
Wave Permits are not easy to get, but odds can vary at different times of year. To find out about everything you need to know about Wave permits and lottery strategy check out the Permits page. There are alternative tours available in case no permit is obtained – the most popular alternatives are White Pocket and South Coyote Buttes.
Want to learn more about The Wave? Check out our comprehensive blog post The Wave Tour: Everything You Need to Know.
If you’re interested in a great alternative to hiking the Wave, consider a trip to White Pocket. Read all about how White Pocket compares to the Wave in our BLOG.
Other Paria / Vermillion Cliffs Tours
We go out of our way to open the wonders of the West to EVERYONE.
We are permitted, licensed, and insured.
Dreamland Safari Tours holds Special Use Permits from the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument/Paria Wilderness, Kanab Bureau of Land Management and Arizona Strip Bureau of Land Management.
Don’t see your preferred departure date or time available via online booking? Give us a call.
For sunset or sunrise at our more remote locations, we recommend a scheduled or custom overnight or multi-day tour – and we are happy to work with you to develop an itinerary that meets your needs.
All listed tour durations and pickup times are approximate. Please allow 10-20 minutes of pickup time flexibility for unforeseen circumstances and varying pickup logistics. Water and snacks are provided on all tours. A lunch meal is included on all tours of 6+ hours. Vegetarian option available.
We reserve the right to fill all empty seats on non-private tours. Cancellation / Reschedule / Weather policy applies.
Please familiarize yourself with our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS before contacting us.
Contact us
To contact us with other specific questions or begin Making Reservations click the “Book Now” Button on each tour page or click Contact Us for info on how to give us a call or shoot us an email.
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