The Wave

The Wave is a swirling sandstone formation on the slopes of Coyote Buttes, inside the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness south of Kanab. Bands of Navajo Sandstone, laid down as desert dunes roughly 190 million years ago, have been carved by wind and water into folds of red, orange, and cream rock that genuinely look otherworldly in photographs and in person. Dinosaur tracks show up along the route too, a reminder this landscape has been exposed a very long time.

Getting there

Access is by permit only, issued through a BLM lottery — competition is real, and more than one visitor here spent a couple of years applying before getting drawn. Once you have a permit, it's about a 2.5-mile hike each way from the trailhead, mostly cross-country over sand and slickrock with few markers. Bring a GPS track or the BLM's route photos, plenty of water (reviewers recommend 4 liters or more per person), sun protection, and good footwear — there's no shade and no cell signal.

Why it's worth the effort

• Rated 4.7 from over 600 reviews, with visitors consistently calling it a bucket-list hike
• The formation itself is small enough to explore slowly — plan to linger, not rush through
• Nearby side spots like the reflective pool and "boneyard" reward those who explore a bit farther, especially with a local guide

Check current lottery details and permit info at thewaveaz.com before planning your trip.