The Wave Is An Otherworldly Destination On The Utah Border
By Catherine Armstrong|Published March 18, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Some of Utah’s most stunning destinations…aren’t in Utah. Oh, don’t worry – we still have plenty of legit jaw-droppers inside our borders (take in the views at Bryce Canyon National Park, for instance). But there’s one pretty famous place that draws hikers and photographers from all over the world, and it’s often mistakenly attributed to Utah. The Wave is an otherworldly place in the desert…but it’s a couple miles inside the Arizona border. We won’t tell if you won’t. Just take a look at this amazing, surreal environment.
The Wave is a jaw-dropping, otherworldly sandstone formation, located in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. It's a stunning place to visit, but not so fast...
Only 20 people per day are allowed into The Wave. There's a lottery online that doles out half the permits; you'll apply four months in advance. The other half of the permits are given to lucky hikers who are able to score a last-minute permit in a walk-in lottery at the Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah. The success rate to get a permit is pretty low, so most people try several times before obtaining one.
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If you're lucky, you'll be hiking The Wave later in the year. If not, well we've got some pretty pics you can enjoy in the meantime.
Don't feel too bad. Hiking The Wave isn't for everyone. It's 5.2 miles out and back, and it requires good navigation skills. If you don't know what you're doing, you can easily get lost and die.
The landscape in this region truly looks like it belongs on another planet. You can see why it captures the imaginations of photographers all over the world.
There's no formal trail to The Wave. Hikers must traverse across the open desert, relying on a compass or GPS. If you have the skills to hike The Wave, and the patience to keep trying for a permit, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We’d love to hear from you if you’ve hiked the wave, or if you’re planning on it! Share your stories and photos with us in the comments.
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