How to get permits for The Wave - 2021 UPDATE!

[@enrique1777]

We went last week with the online system and that was the first time we applied. We arrived at Page at 5:40PM and we applied by 5:50PM and a couple hours later we had won!!! We had already a whole schedule set and if we had arrived late we had not applied. It was great!!!!

[@JerryArizona]

Awesome! So hard to get permits, but it's worth it.

[@jeanettecameron7530]

We continue to pursue a permit but in the meantime went out to White Pocket in March. Stunning. Had the place to ourselves.. Just watched your vid on your Parunuweap trip. The road to White Pocket had some pucker factor spots for sure so when you mentioned the road into Parunuweap was worse I was impressed at how calm you both seemed. I enjoy your subtle commentary.

[@JerryArizona]

We were supposed to do the Zion Narrows, but it got closed due to COVID, so we ended up at Parunuweap last second. That trip inspired me to get sand boards, a compressor, a shovel and some other gear for the vehicle so we can be better prepared. Those roads were no joke. They were like the last part of the road to White Pocket for the whole trip.

[@bigfish8280]

I'm not familiar with the wave and I'm watching this video. I watched a video on a channel I recently found it's this girl who lives in her mini home van and she tried for the wave Lottery but didn't get in. I had no idea what it was except for a hiking trail and I'm looking up more videos to find out why the hell there's a lottery and why so many people try to enter. Now I know so thank you

[@TattooedGranny]

Thank you for this video. I have tried for several years to get this permit via the online lottery. I have a nice collection of rejection emails I keep “for fun.” BUT this last time I WON my first permit to hike the WAVE in early Dec 2021. I am so F%@&ing excited! I cannot wait. My background is in photography and being from WI I am great in the cold. I am looking forward to viewing your other videos about the actual hike for tips. Also tips for the area in general for other epic hikes. Flying into Vegas and picking up a rental. Again…I am EXCITED.

[@JerryArizona]

It's worth being excited for. The wave is awesome. I have several other videos of amazing places in the area. Some good photo ops are: Antelope Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, Toadstools, White Pocket, Horseshoe Bend, Wahweap Hoodoos, Yellow Rock.....much more. I recently released a video of stuff around Page that gives some info. Enjoy! Any questions, just ask.

[@cgrsworld]

This is NOW!! Woot! Can't wait to see your video!

[@nickymazur]

Did the same thing for the subway hike at Zion. Did the online lottery 3 times lost each time. Then I went to Zion visitor center asked if I can buy a last minute permit the day after and they gave it to me cause people cancel all the time. Wish the wave was like that too haha thanks for the advice!

[@JerryArizona]

Yeah, the Subway is DEFINITELY easier to get. But still awesome.

[@theupcycledtreejourney851]

Love the blooping outtakes!

[@chrisross3631]

Wow, super lucky! And lucky for us for another Wave video! I saw your last video and knew you were near Kanab, so was hoping for this. I'm super jealous!

[@JerryArizona]

Working on it right now. Actually got the Wave & White Pocket squeezed into a single awesome day.

[@django02]

Great video! Thanks a lot for all the info. Your outtakes at the end remind me of the ones I get when I'm trying to record a good clean take of a song played on guitar or mandolin.

[@JerryArizona]

Checked out your channel and was disappointed there are no guitar or mandolin vids! Yeah, thank God for editing programs or my videos would be a train wreck.

[@django02]

@@JerryArizona I mainly use youtube to host videos for some forums and group pages I belong to so they have been set as "unlisted". If you're interested, I switched one of a quick medley of Irish tunes on octave mandolin to public. Anyway, happy trails!

[@rafaelrieck6655]

Believe it or not: My wife and me (we are from old Germany) have been there 30 years ago. We didn´t need any permit, but nobody around Kanab could tell us the way to the wave! We needed 3 days to found the way.

[@LionsFanLarry]

We were in Kanab in April/May and struck out at the walk-in Wave lottery 18 times! That might be a record. We tried timing our position in line to get lucky numbers. I often wore my lucky shirt. We tried standing at center court for the drawing (I don't really believe in that energy vortex stuff, but who knows?) Nothing worked. Even the guy taking applications said he was rooting for us. I was confident that our perseverance would pay off, but after 18 failed attempts we decided to move along. On a few days there were over 100 applications vying for the 4 permits. The odds are bad, but everyone has fun with it. The organizers joke around, and sometimes the people in the bleachers do The Wave between numbers. We got home a few days before the end of the month and entered the online lottery. WE WON a permit for our first choice in September, my birthday! A good excuse for another road trip. The online lottery seems easy, but that's just from my experience.

[@JerryArizona]

That's AWESOME. I was reading your story thinking "man, 18 times, that stinks" and then I get to the end part. You will love it. I also highly recommend looking into Top Rock Arch, the Alcove & Melody Arch. They're right there and make a great day an incredible day. Enjoy!

[@LionsFanLarry]

@@JerryArizona I got the coordinates for all of the other nearby points of interest from your first Wave video. After all of the effort put into getting the permit, I want to see EVERYTHING! We're so looking forward to it.

[@mjosephchambers]

I watched this after the first one posted about two years ago. They are the best information I've been able to find on this topic. I have been trying for about three years and I'm starting to plan for a trip to Kanab in May, so the advice about the in-person lottery is very welcome. Also…you were clear about how there can only be one entry per group for the in-person lottery, but I am not clear if the same applies to the on-line lottery. I have made several applications with a friend where we each apply for a two person group on different dates. Since you don't have to name the people in your group we figure that we could go if either of us won. It's not clear to me when or if you have to name all of the people in your group and whether or not what we are doing with the on line entries will get us disqualified.

[@JerryArizona]

I honestly don't know the answer to that regarding the online. But when we tried it, I don't remember it asking for your party names, so no idea how they would know. Unless they cross checked them with tens of thousands of entries after the fact. If you're concerned, I'd call and ask. Best of luck to you.

[@dantheman1624]

Hi Jer…I was lucky enough to get in a second time while hiking your recommendations for cathedral wash and spencer trail and thought oh what the heck I’ll go up for a night and try one day (prior to the increase of persons) and low and behold was selected…what a treat…thanks for what you do!

[@pokert9401]

Thank you for the update Jerry, i was there last April and everything you said is true. The 3 days lottery pick on Friday is seasonal (I believe it starts November to April) which is why they are fully open now, 7 days a week.

[@walkitoffarizona887]

So do you get an Arizona lottery ticket with every three try’s ? My Son the real photographer and videographer and I were talking about this trip on Father’s Day . Told him you did a great video on permits ! So this update is helpful for sure ! Thank you Jerry !

[@cgrsworld]

OMG!!!! I WAS PICKED FOR MARCH!!! I am so stoked! Now I'll have to go back and rewatch your vids to help plan. :-)

[@JerryArizona]

CONGRATS! You will love it. Definitely plan on seeing Top Rock Arch, The Alcove and Melody Arch. They are amazing as well. There's a formation just before you get to the wave that looks like the wave (to the left right as you approach the Wave.) Check that out too. And if you have time, a walk down Wire Pass to Buckskin will also blow your mind. Enjoy.

[@cgrsworld]

@@JerryArizona all on my list that I've already started. :-) I've been on Cloud9 all day today! Is there a favorite place you like to stay when you're up there? I don't really want to camp this trip.

[@JerryArizona]

We usually stay at Red Canyon Cabins in Kanab. Not fancy, but it works. Plenty of places in Page also. I don't worry too much about hotels. As long as they're clean, I'm all good. You definitely need to check out Escobar's in Kanab for some killer Mexican food, though.

[@MichaelYoungblood1]

You have great content on this channel. I finally won this damn permit (online lottery) after trying routinely since 2016, minus the summer months. This time, I just applied on a whim. We won Half Dome permits for August and also spending a few days in Vegas. Thought you know, Kanab isn’t too far from Vegas and voila. However, I am terrified of this hike. Not the hike itself but the fact that is for late August. The heat scares me. This is also a hike that I feel you would push yourself against better judgment just because it is so hard to win the permits. Think my plan will be to either hike in the dark and be back at the car by 11(ish) or hire a guide.

[@JerryArizona]

Thank you! Take tons of water, go super early, wear sunscreen and the appropriate clothes. Make sure someone knows your itinerary. Might not hurt to do some 'test hikes' in the area the day before or so to get a feel for the heat. Something close to the car where you can bail if you feel off. I wouldn't recommend the 'extras' (melody arch, top rock, etc.) if you are really worried about the heat. Watch the forecast for temps. Maybe you'll get lucky like we did with wind or cloud cover. A guide isn't the worst idea at all, but you need to have a permit for them. Remember you can always turn around, steal pics online and pretend they're yours. Not sure where you are from or what your experience is with heat; I'm pretty used to AZ and know how to deal with it. If you're from Michigan or Alaska or something where you aren't used to it, August might not be a great idea.

[@MichaelYoungblood1]

@@JerryArizona thanks for the sound advice! From NC, so I am used to heat and the lovely humidity but it just hits differently in the desert. Plus we have readily available shade when needed. We did Big Bend at the beginning April and fared fine. It was plenty hot down there at that time. Fingers crossed. I will have to double-check on the guide. I thought I read that the authorized outfitters were exempt from needing a permit. Just you and your party had to have one.

[@sandb1867]

I got my permit to the Wave back in 2012 inside the Kanab office. Couldn't believe my bingo ball was picked first! However there were less than two dozen people in the room vying for a permit. A few years ago I tried again twice but this time the room was packed full both days (>100 people?). Sadly the Wave has gotten ridiculously popular, like Arches NP. Go see what you can now because eventually we'll need reservations and permits for everything!

[@JerryArizona]

I have a love/hate relationship with the permit process. I hate dealing with permits. But I love that it limits foot traffic and protects these places. The wave would be trampled smooth if permits weren't limited.

[@jrlong3490]

Thanks for the update Jerry. Looks like you get to sleep in every time you want to go and let your lucky charm do the deed.

[@CactusAtlas]

Ugh. One day we'll win the lottery to check the place out for ourselves. Thanks for the details on all the updates though!

[@JerryArizona]

This one is rough, for sure. By far the hardest one we've ever gotten....Well, I personally still have never gotten it.

[@corydriver7634]

Thanks for the updates and lessons learned this could save a lot of hassle. Is the in person lottery really 365, I just can’t imagine doing this Christmas Day. Thanks again.

[@janefromthecountry1820]

Awesome video, Jerry! I really enjoy your videos! 😍😍😍👍

[@robhebbs7960]

Thanks for sharing your excperiance , and the new rules . very helpful.

[@johnnycramer5841]

When and where is the next happy hour?! Timmy C Arizona

[@davidrivera4455]

Gracias Jerry!! I need that good luck!!

[@shorty3636]

Great info!! I just heard about the wave recently and want to go check it out. Is there a time of year that might be easier to get a permit? What I'm asking is, is there a slow season that would be easier to get a permit?

[@JerryArizona]

I don't think so. We've gotten permits twice. Both in person lottery. And we've tried many times. I try all year for the online and haven't had luck after 2 or 3 years. And there seems to be no corrolation between time of year or day of the week for in person. We've gone on a weekday and it was packed. And we've gone on a weekend and it was half as many. My recommendation is still the same as what I gave in this video; keep trying online, go for weekdays. If you can, go in person and have Plan B hikes set up if you lose. They have changed the process somewhat for in person. I think you can apply then they will text you if you win so you don't have to sit there and waste half your morning. Not 100% sure on that so check their website.

[@JerryArizona]

Oh, and White Pocket (no permits, but deep sand roads) and Coyote Buttes South (permits required) are solid back up plans.

[@shorty3636]

@@JerryArizona Awesome!! Thank you.

[@badkat68]

Do you think, at the in-person lottery, being a single hiker gives you any advantage?

[@jamiepizz]

Some great, practical info. Thanks! You must put some mileage on your vehicles!

[@davesusko3517]

I’m guessing they do a max number of groups so they don’t have to possibly force the last group picked to break up like they used to. They probably justify the fewer onsite permits by having far more on line permits.

[@JerryArizona]

Maybe. It was pretty awkward watching people pick who they wanted to go at the old lottery. Whatever the reason, I'm fine with less people. The sandstone ridges of the Wave are relatively fragile and the less foot traffic, the better.

[@paulvanheukelom7998]

Question. If you win the in person lottery do you begin the hike that day or is the permit you won valid for 3 days?

[@JerryArizona]

I believe right now when you win it in person, it is for two days after you won. It used to be for the following morning. I'd double check online though since they change the rules all the time.

[@enrique1777]

@@JerryArizona @paulvanheukelom7998 Lets speak days so it is clearer. You win on Friday 7:15PM, you pick up your permit at 8:30AM on Saturday, then you hike on Sunday. The permit is valid ONLY for Sunday

[@kerieray]

It's changed again now. The daily permit is online on the App only (have to , and you have to be within a certain area (geofence) to apply for a permit in 2 days. No in person anymore.

[@JerryArizona]

Yeah, and this was my updated version. I can't keep up with the changes anymore.

[@crawfish91]

Will a standard SUV work? Why does the Kanabcenter says 4x4 only?

[@JerryArizona]

Honestly, I'm not sure. If it's not wet or snowy, I think you'd be 100% fine with a standard SUV. Clearance is nice, but high clearance isn't required. Just take it slow if it gets bumpy. I'm generally pretty conservative on where I'll take my Tacoma, but this road isn't that bad at all.

[@JimBobele]

Outtakes rule ;-) Thx for all the information. I'll give it a try next year

[@JerryArizona]

Good luck! It's the hardest permits we've ever gotten, but worth it. Not just a photo op if you do all the other stuff in the permit area. And if you lose, there are plenty of other amazing places to check out.

[@RamblinRoadies]

I signed up for the online lottery today. Results will be tomorrow. I won the Selective Service lottery in '71,maybe I'll be lucky again. 😎

[@JerryArizona]

Hope you got lucky! It's a tough one to get, for sure. FINALLY won the online lottery after about 5~6 years of trying.

[@RamblinRoadies]

@@JerryArizona Nope, didn't get it. But I'll try again.

[@S.A.Bukhari007]

Sir I want to come from South Africa to see the waves but if I couldn't get permit then it will cry badly. Any secure option for me??

[@JerryArizona]

The only definite is if you win the online lottery. I tried it monthly for about 5 or 6 years before finally winning, although some people have won on their first try. You'll then know 2~3 months in advance of your trip if you've won. My wife won the in person lottery 2 times out of about 6~8 tries, so odds are better there. But not guaranteed. You MAY be able to get a guide service who can somehow get permits, but I'm not sure how that works. I always thought you had to win the permits first, then hire the guide to go with you. But you might want to call some of those services and ask them. Best of luck. It's a tough permit to get.

[@mirage711]

Jerry thank you so much for the information we tried it last year and we didn't get a permit we were on location in Kanab Utah but after watching your video I just entered the lottery for October for 3 days different days of course thank you again for all the information really appreciate it that would be a dream come true if I win the wave

[@JerryArizona]

Best of luck!

[@findinAway]

Thanks so much for making this bodeo

[@davidshechtman4746]

How f'n long is the hike?!

[@JerryArizona]

It depends. I want to say it's about 3~3.5 miles each way if you just go to the wave. When we've gone we went and checked out other things in the area. My GPS shows we walked 8.4 miles with 1,177 ft elevation in just over 6 hours. This included climbing the hill behind the Wave as well, which is where most of the elevation gain was, I believe. I have another video of just the trip that shows more of the hike (and less about permits.)

[@davidshechtman4746]

@@JerryArizona sorry. I have watched a number of videos and can't find anything about the distance. I was frustrated by the time I got to yours. Thanks for your help

[@JerryArizona]

@@davidshechtman4746 haha! No problem. Getting the permit is the hard part. It’s not a tough hike. Just searched another thing and it says 6 miles (3 miles out, 3 back) and 400’ elevation gain. Think that’s about right.

[@cgrsworld]

@Jerry Arizona thanks for posting this updated version! 64 humans a day sounds like an awful lot. :-(

[@JerryArizona]

I would honestly have preferred they left it at 20, even if it meant I never got to go. But we didn't really notice a big difference between when they had 64 and when they had 20 as far as the number of people we saw when we were there.

[@cgrsworld]

@@JerryArizona that's good to hear. And even though I've not yet been, I would have preferred 20 max also. (even if I never got to go) How do they keep the area from degrading?

[@robertdavidbrenda]

@@cgrsworld I was there a few weeks ago. 8 people got in. 4 groups of two each. If there had been a single applicant it would have reduced the number to 7 people, and so on. The average group size is about 3.5 people. I took numbers from the old system, when numbers were available. At this average group size they will always reach the 4 group limit before they reach the 16 people limit. So.....the new system, in practice, does not increase the traffic significantly considering the size of the area. When I got my online permit (June 8 a year ago) the in person was suspended and the 10 online people had trouble traveling. My wife and I had it to ourselves. It was a cold day for June... spitting snow on the way back to the car. PS: the group size limit for in person is 6, same as online according to their website David Morrow

[@cgrsworld]

@@robertdavidbrenda thanks for the feedback!

[@ToddCopeland]

Still a little scammy. 1000 per day x$3 (used to be $9) = $3,000 profit per day. Do the math to figure how much revenue this location generates with next to no expenses. Of course, the state pays a 3rd party to run the online lottery. Granted, it is now allowing about 70 people instead of 20 (more bang for the buck) but still the same revenue. 70 or 200 people... it simply won't make a difference to the area. Granted, there is something to be said for having it less busy but how busy would it be if it were easy to go any time? Of course, they would lose out on millions of dollars in revenue. Most people end up paying _many_ $9 fees to finally win a spot. So it could easily cost hundreds of dollars.

[@JerryArizona]

I was told they keep numbers low to preserve the 'wilderness experience', which I agree with (especially after having just hiked the un-permitted lower Zion Narrows). Another example I saw on this trip was at my stop off at Horseshoe Bend, which is now a fenced, paved pull off much more like a line to get your picture with Santa at the mall than a wilderness experience. As is, we were able to have this area to ourselves, albeit for only 15~20 minutes. Still worth it. Also, the sandstone ridges that make the wave are fragile and would be worn down with all the people, eventually destroying the place. As for the revenue.....I get what you're saying. But personally I don't mind. If anyone is going to get my money, the park service or BLM is one of the ones that least annoys me. The area is clean, the road is nice, the bathrooms are maintained and they just extended the parking lot. So overall, I know some of that money is going to the places I love.

[@BS2Dos]

👍👍

[@bob.w3984]

I dont need to go that bad. Seen it years ago and there are obviously to many people going now.

[@stevewright2241]

Could you and your wife enter the lottery separately and increase your odds of winning

[@JerryArizona]

No. They make you write down the names of everyone in your party. If you win, they will check against all other entries and names. If they see the names repeated, they'll disqualify you. (I do not think this applies to the online, but I don't remember.)

[@ToddCopeland]

@@JerryArizona I was actually down there this past Christmas when this happened in person. They announced a winner and then checked the other entries. They then told everyone what happened and had a few choice words for those who may try multiple entries.

[@w9jim]

I'm a four-time looser at the in-person lottery.