Photo adventure to "the Wave" in northern Arizona

The Wave, located in northern Arizona is on many photographers bucket-lists. It was on mine since I was about 15 years old, which is ironic because it's practically in my backyard and although it is only about 80 miles from my home town it took me over 30 years to get there. I should have done it when I was a kid, now there are so many restrictions which make it quite difficult to go to. The Wave is located in Coyote Buttes North wilderness area just south of Hwy 89 between Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona. If you are choosing a place to stay nearby I'd suggest Kanab. Its a sleepy little tourist town that has a charm of its own. The residents are friendly, there are a range of restaurants from fast food to fine dining. They have multiple hotels, RV parks and several nice resorts nearby. Kanab also has most of the basic services you might need like gas stations, grocery stores and a small hospital. There are also many other things to see in the area like Zion National Park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Grand Canyon North Rim, Bryce Canyon National Park and lots of little hiking and 4x4 trails close to Kanab. Get your reservations in advance for hotels or AirBNB accomodations because they have several weekends where they have big events like the Kane County fair, Western Legends Heritage & Music Festival and Hot Air Balloon Festival, and the rooms fill up at those times. The busy season for Kanab is April through October.

My favorite photo from my trip to the wave.

First thing you need to know is you have to have a permit from the BLM to hike in. The permits are by lottery, 48 granted online three months in advance and 16 permits granted through a lottery held two days in advance of the date you hike. When we went the 16 permits not given out 3 months in advance were only available by showing up in peson at the BLM office in Kanab the day before at 9 am and putting your name in the lottery. At 9 am they pulled the names out of the hat until all of the permits for the day were gone. We got lucky because my friend who was there for us had his name pulled first and our entire group of 8 was given permits. I'm pretty sure the cosmos were pulling for him, the next day which is the day we got permits for...was his birthday.

I think its easier now that they draw the last minute permits online because its hard to drive all the way to Kanab just to put your name in then have to return the next day to do the hike. The downside is since its online way more people apply and your odds of getting permits is even lower now. Don't be discouraged, it is worth it!!!! Warning - DO NOT try to sneak in and hike without a permit. There are rangers patrolling the trail and they will stop you and ask to see your permit and the actual named permit holder must be with your group and you cannot have more people in your group than is on the permit or you will be fined.

You usually don't need four wheel drive to reach the parking lot if you are coming in from the north (Kanab). but if you are coming from the south (Marble Canyon/Grand Canyon) the road can be deep sand and difficult to drive without a 4x4 vehicle.

The hike in is only about 6 miles round trip but its on an unmarked trail that includes quite a bit of "slickrock" surfaces so you can't accurately follow other hikers tracks. You will need a map & compass or a good GPS. It's easy to loose your sense of direction out there in the middle of the day so if you aren't comfortable with finding your way with map it is a good idea to hire a guide. At least 5 people have died on this trail and it's ususally from a combination of exposure and getting lost, so bring LOTS OF WATER! There is no water availble anywhere on this trail and there is very little shade. This is the desert folks, and it gets hot!!! (We hiked in in the early morning to beat the afternoon heat. We also visited in the winter when it's cooler and less busy so permits were easier to obtain.) It is a good idea to wear high quality hiking shoes or boots with grippy soles for the navigating the slick sandstone surfaces. Also consider hat with a wide brim, lightweight hiking pants or shorts and long sleeve shirt to protect your skin from the sun. It may seem counter intuitive to cover up when its hot but when wearing a breathable, lightweight outer layer, as you perspire it actually cools you off, similar to the swamp coolers we used to have in our homes. (It may explain why the nomads in the Sahara dressed like they did.) I bring a 2 liter hydration pack filled with water and an electrolyte powder or a pinch of celtic sea salt. I also pack suncreen, snacks/light lunch and a small first aid kit in the backpack along with my camera gear. Since I'm not as fit as I'd like to be, I kept my camera gear to a minimum. I usually hike with my camera attached to my SpiderHolster belt which is great for people like me who suffer with upper back pain if I have a camera dangling from my neck for very long. In the backpack there was also an extra battery, extra memory card and my 18-24mm 2.8 lens. My 24-70mm 2.8 lens was attached to my camera. The lenses were heavy but I felt like i needed them both and I did use both of them. I actually wished I also had a longer lens because we saw an eagle, a rattlesnake and couple of big lizards along the way.

Do NOT plan on your cellphone working out there, service is spotty to non-existent, which can be a good thing too, most of us could use a chance to completely unplug for the day anyway! For safety DO let someone know your plans, where you will be and when you will be back and have a plan to call them at a specific time so if you don't show up they can contact the local authorities to send out a search party. This is standard operation for me everytime I head out into the wilderness even in my jeep and it has saved me more than once.

Please remember that this is a pack it in/pack it out area! There are no trash bins and no trail maintenance or cleaning. Please don't damage this beautiful place by scratching names in the rocks or leaving trash or feces along the trail. If we dont take care of these natural wonders they will restrict the uses even more.

Don't let all of my warnings turn you away from visiting this amazing place! Mother Nature isnt to be feared, she just needs respected.

The wind sculpted sandstone is truly magical. It is amazing how a place so harsh and inhospitable can also be so peaceful and breathtakingly beautiful! The Wave is one of those places that you will never forget.

I hope that if "the wave" is on your bucket list you get to go! If you do please let me know how your adventure went. I would love to hear all about it.

Here is the link

Wave info

to the information on hiking the wave.

Good luck!

Make sure you are prepared for your trip. Kanab area has very little as far as shops and outfitters and what you do find locally will most likely be expensive and limited. Below is some of the gear I use for hiking. Some are affilitate links and I may receive a small commission if you purchase using my links but it doesn’t cost you any more to use them and I’d love the support for my blog,

Camelback Hydration backpack - I like them because they have large openings to fill and it makes them easier to clean and dry out!Its disgusting to find the bladder has developed mold! I know from experience. It’s also important to me to have some room for storage of snacks, filters or camera batteries, etc. Tip- Always completely clean and air dry immediately after each use to prevent bacterial growth or off flavors in the water.

Electrolytes are a must in the desert! I use Celtic salt or Liquid IV Hydration multiplier packs I love the LMNT electrolytes but they are harder to find and it seems like they are always sold out of my favorite flavors. Just add to the water before you put it in your hydration pack. (Sometimes I add a drop or of lemon essential oil to help with flavor and it keeps the lining of the hydration pack fresher.}

Sunscreen - my dermatologist got me using Cerave and it’s great! Inexpensive and doesn’t clog pores! Definitely give it a try!

Good hiking boots are important ! I use Keen hiking boots There are cheaper versions of these, but I bought quality and it’s paid off. I’ve had my boots for about 8 years and they are still my favorite hiking shoes. My boots are water resistant and grip great, which is a bonus since on this trip I slid on some slickrock and the nice grippy soles saved me from being seriously injured. They still look almost new and I’ve put a lot of miles on them. I did over 100 miles on them in the first year. Tip- consider breaking them in before your trip if not then definitely pick up some Wool padded hiking socks are great for extra protection from chafing and they wick away moisture keeping your feet dry which helps prevent blistering also.

Wide Brim hat - packable  

Columbia or Kuhl hiking pants - I am tall so I have to buy from brands that offer a longer inseam. I love mine because they are breathable and lightweight, yet durable. They do have hiking pants that convert to shorts but I generally wear long pants while hiking to prevent scratches and scrapes from brush and rocks also the OCD part of me hates weird tan lines from hiking shorts.

Columbia vented shirt these are my favorites. I have Columbia shirts in many colors and styles but the vented ones are best for hiking in this desert. Don't forget to consider long sleeve versions as they protect you from sunburn with their UV protectant woven into them.