Picture this: You’ve been trying for months to secure a permit for The Wave, only to face disappointment after disappointment in the lottery system. What if we told you there’s an equally stunning alternative that doesn’t require winning the geological lottery?
South Coyote Buttes offers some of the most spectacular sandstone formations in the American Southwest, rivaling the famous Wave without the crushing permit competition. While thousands of hikers fixate on that one iconic swirled rock formation, seasoned adventurers know that South Coyote Buttes harbors secrets that might just surpass The Wave in both beauty and accessibility.
Why Skip The Wave? Understanding the Permit Challenge
The Wave’s permit system has become notoriously difficult, with only 64 daily permits available through an online lottery and 10 walk-in permits distributed each day. Success rates hover around 1-2%, meaning hundreds of thousands of hopeful visitors leave empty-handed annually. This competitive bottleneck has created a phenomenon where hikers spend more time refreshing permit websites than actually exploring the incredible landscape that surrounds this single formation.
The obsession with The Wave has overshadowed equally remarkable geological wonders in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. South Coyote Buttes, located in the same region, offers diverse hiking opportunities with significantly better permit availability and arguably more varied photographic opportunities.
Discovering South Coyote Buttes: Nature’s Best-Kept Secret
South Coyote Buttes encompasses a vast area of sculpted sandstone formations, slot canyons, and colorful rock layers that tell millions of years of geological history. Unlike the concentrated fame of The Wave, South Coyote Buttes spreads its treasures across a larger area, offering hikers multiple destinations within a single permit area.
The region showcases the same Navajo Sandstone that creates The Wave’s distinctive patterns, but here you’ll find formations with names like Cottonwood Cove, South Cove, and various unnamed alcoves and arches. These locations provide intimate encounters with nature’s artistry without the crowds that have begun to impact The Wave’s pristine environment.
Key Formations in South Coyote Buttes
Cottonwood Cove stands as perhaps the most accessible and rewarding destination in South Coyote Buttes. This expansive area features towering sandstone walls, natural bridges, and colorful mineral deposits that create a painter’s palette across the rock face. The hike to Cottonwood Cove offers moderate difficulty with well-defined wash routes that make navigation relatively straightforward.
South Cove presents a more adventurous option, requiring advanced navigation skills and desert hiking experience. The reward includes pristine slot canyon sections, unusual rock formations, and solitude that’s become increasingly rare in popular Southwest destinations. This area exemplifies why many experienced hikers prefer South Coyote Buttes over more crowded alternatives.
Unnamed formations throughout the permit area provide endless exploration opportunities. Unlike The Wave’s single focal point, South Coyote Buttes encourages wandering and discovery, with new photographic subjects around every sandstone corner.
Planning Your South Coyote Buttes Adventure
Permit Requirements and Availability
South Coyote Buttes requires permits through the same system as North Coyote Buttes (where The Wave is located), but success rates are significantly higher. The area allows 20 people per day, compared to The Wave’s 64, but receives far fewer applications. Many dates, especially during shoulder seasons, have permits available without entering the lottery system.
Permits cost $7 per person plus a $5 processing fee and can be obtained through Recreation.gov up to four months in advance. The online lottery opens at 12:00 PM Mountain Time on the first of each month for dates four months later. Walk-in permits are also available at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah, though availability varies seasonally.
Best Times to Visit
Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) offer ideal hiking conditions with moderate temperatures and excellent lighting for photography. Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F, making early morning starts essential. Winter hiking is possible but requires preparation for potential snow and ice, particularly at higher elevations.
Photography enthusiasts should consider lunar cycles when planning visits. New moon periods provide optimal conditions for astrophotography, while full moons can create dramatic nighttime landscapes if you’re planning overnight trips.
Essential Gear and Preparation
Desert hiking demands specific preparation and equipment. Navigation tools are crucial since trails are often unmarked washes and slickrock routes. GPS devices or smartphone apps with offline maps become lifelines in this trackless terrain. Carry backup navigation methods, as electronic devices can fail in remote areas.
Water requirements increase dramatically in desert environments. Plan for at least one gallon per person per day, more during summer months. The nearest water sources are often hours away, making self-sufficiency critical for safety.
Sun protection becomes paramount in the high desert. Wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen protect against intense UV exposure reflected off light-colored sandstone surfaces.
Navigation and Route Finding
Unlike developed trail systems, South Coyote Buttes requires confident navigation skills. Routes follow natural features like washes, ridgelines, and rock formations rather than maintained trails. This wilderness character appeals to experienced hikers seeking authentic desert exploration.
Start your adventure from the Paw Hole trailhead, accessed via House Rock Valley Road. The initial route follows a well-defined wash system before branching toward specific destinations. Key landmarks include distinctive rock formations, elevation changes, and wash intersections that serve as navigation checkpoints.
Consider hiring local guides for first-time visits. Several outfitters in Kanab offer guided South Coyote Buttes trips, providing valuable local knowledge while ensuring safety in challenging terrain. These guided experiences often reveal hidden formations and photography spots that independent hikers might miss.
Photography Opportunities Beyond The Wave
South Coyote Buttes offers diverse photographic subjects that rival or exceed The Wave’s iconic appeal. The area’s varied geology creates different lighting conditions, color palettes, and compositional opportunities throughout the day.
Golden hour lighting transforms the sandstone into glowing sculptures, while blue hour creates mysterious silhouettes against colorful skies. The region’s elevation changes provide multiple vantage points for landscape photography, from intimate slot canyon details to expansive desert vistas.
Wildlife photography opportunities include desert bighorn sheep, various bird species, and unique desert flora adapted to harsh conditions. The area’s pristine nature means wildlife encounters remain authentic and undisturbed by heavy human traffic.
Conservation and Responsible Recreation
South Coyote Buttes’ relative obscurity has preserved its pristine condition, but increased visitation requires responsible recreation practices. Leave No Trace principles become critical in this fragile desert ecosystem where human impacts can persist for decades.
Stick to established routes when possible and avoid creating new trails across cryptobiotic soil crusts that prevent erosion and support desert life. Pack out all waste, including organic materials that decompose slowly in arid environments. Respect wildlife by maintaining distance and avoiding disruption of natural behaviors.
The permit system exists to protect these irreplaceable formations while allowing sustainable recreation. Compliance with permit requirements and regulations ensures future generations can experience South Coyote Buttes’ natural wonders.
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Making the Most of Your Visit
Plan for full-day adventures to maximize your South Coyote Buttes experience. Early starts beat both crowds and heat while providing optimal photography lighting. Carry detailed maps and consider downloading offline GPS applications as backup navigation tools.
Combine your South Coyote Buttes visit with other nearby attractions like Buccaneer Trail, White Pocket, or Wire Pass Slot Canyon to create a comprehensive Southwest adventure. The region’s concentration of geological wonders makes it an ideal base for extended exploration.
Local accommodations in Kanab provide convenient access to trailheads while offering dining and supply options for multi-day adventures. Many visitors find that spending several days in the area allows for weather flexibility and multiple exploration opportunities.
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Ready to Discover Your Own Wave?
South Coyote Buttes represents everything that makes Southwest hiking extraordinary: stunning geology, wilderness solitude, and endless discovery opportunities. While others wait months for Wave permits, you can be exploring equally magnificent formations with better availability and fewer crowds.