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Hiking Forum The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Coyote Buttes, The Wave, Paria Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument!
Stay in Mt. Carmel Jct., the heart of the parks, and visit
the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Paria Canyon vacation
with our Utah and Arizona maps.
In these pages you will find insiders information on the best
Coyote Buttes hikes. This detailed
guide includes road maps, permits, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking,
history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds.
Utah!
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Paria Canyon Directions
From Mount Carmel Junction, drive 17 miles to Kanab. Leave Kanab, drive 40 miles
east on Highway 89. The turn-off is located on the south (right side coming from
Kanab) side of the road. Its between mile markers 25 and 26, at a curve in the
road, at the end of a guard rail. Turn at the unmarked dirt road. This is House
Rock Road.
The Wave is a multi colored wonderland of carved stone that
fascinates the mind and the eye.
GPS Beta: Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Parking lot at Wire Pass
37°01.1749N
112°01.4967W
Elevation: 4875'
The Wave
36°59.7386N
112°00.3583W
Elevation: 5200'
Distance from parking lot: 2.75 miles
Top Rock Arch
36°59.6724N
112°00.2889W
Elevation: 5460'
Distance from The Wave .5 miles
Alcove
36°59.5730N
112°00.3326W
Elevation: 5300'
Melody Arch & Grotto
36°59.4680N
112°00.314W
Elevation 5475'
Dinosaur Tracks
36°59.860 N
112°00.650 W.
Elevation 5200'
Stateline Campground
It's 10 miles to the Stateline Campground from Highway 89. There are only 4 spots,
so if you want to camp, get a spot early. It's first come first use. Two of the
camp sights are in Utah and two are in Arizona. There is no water, but there
are vault toilets.
Coyote Buttes Special Permit Offices
Arizona Strip Field Office: 345 East Riverside Drive St. George 435.688.3200.
Kanab Office: 318 N 100 E 435.644.4600
Paria Contact Station: Located south of Highway 89 between mile post 21 and 22,
between Kanab and Page, Az.
Suggested
Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike in Paria Canyon. Quality
shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced hikers like the
Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
Beta: Coordinates, trail and canyoneering information by Zion
Park search and rescue veteran team member, Bo
Beck, Dean
Kurtz, Kane County Sear and Rescue Vice Commander and www.zionnational-park.com
author Tanya Milligan.
This article by Bo and Tanya was published in the St. George Today Magazine.
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Paria Canyon - Coyote Buttes
North Coyote Buttes - The Wave
The Wave is located on the Colorado Plateau, near the Utah and Arizona border.
The area is a gallery of gruesomely twisted sandstone, resembling deformed pillars,
cones, mushrooms and other odd creations. Deposits of iron claim some of the
responsibility for the unique blending of color twisted in the rock, creating
a dramatic rainbow of pastel yellows, pinks and reds.
Paria Canyon contains the spectacular Coyote Buttes Special Management Area. The notorious sandstone buttes sit at the bottom of Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the upper section of Arizona's Paria Canyon -Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness area.
The Wave at a Glance
Photo Album: The Wave Highlights The Wave
Photos
Day hike: Yes. No overnight camping is allowed inside
the permit area.
Trail Map: The Wave Map
Trail Distance: 5.5 miles
to the Wave and back. 8 miles round trip from the Wire Pass parking lot to the
Wave, Top Rock Arch, alcove, Melody Arch, dinosaur tracks and back.
Average hiking time: 6 hours round-trip to the Wave.
8 hours for the Wave, arches, alcove and dinosaur tracks.
Equipment: Sticky, rubber hiking shoes. A least a gallon
of water per person, especially in the hot summer months. A GPS. The BLM supplies
a good map to the Wave with each permit. Optional Map: USGS 7.5' Topographical
Quads - Arizona-Pine Hollow Canyon and Arizona-Coyote Buttes.
Trail Usage: Limited to 20 people per day in North
Coyote Buttes. Dogs are allowed with a permit. (Dogs permits do not use up any
of the 20 hiking permits)
Difficulty: Moderate to the Wave and dinosaur tracks.
Third class scrambling to the arches and alcove. Good navigation skills are required.
Sun Exposure: Full sun. Dark red rock and sand reflect
the sun, amplifying the heat.
Permits:
Day use only. Cost is $5 per person. Limited to 6 people in a group. Each group
constitutes one permit. No more than 20 individuals will be allowed daily access
into this area - 10 from walk-in permits and 10 from submitted applications.
Walk-in permits are available by applying in person for next-day hikes. From
mid-March to mid-November permits will be issued at the Paria Contact Station.
From mid-November to mid-March, the Paria Contact Station is closed and permits
are issued at the Kanab Field Office.
The BLM is preparing to implement a new
lottery permit system which should be operating by May 1, 2006. Ten walk-in hikers
will still be allowed and ten daily hikers will be selected through the lottery
via online or mail application. With the new online/mail permit system you choose
three possible dates and submit the request along with a $5 non-refundable fee.
Reservations can be made four months in advance. Once received, properly submitted
applications will be entered into a computer and then at the first of each month
the requested dates will be randomly drawn. If one of the dates you chose is
selected, you will be notified. If you opt to use that date, then a permit will
be issued for the number of people entered on the original application. The submitted
$5 will be applied to the total permit cost.
Trail Conditions: The start of the
trail is uphill and sandy, but most of the hike is over rock.
Trailhead: Wire Pass - Located 35 miles west of Page,
Arizona and 40 miles east of Kanab, Utah.
Trailend: Same as trailhead
Best Season: Spring and Fall. It's hot in the summer.
When the weather cooperates, this is a good winter hike.
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Elevation Gain to The Wave: 325'
Starting Elevation: 4875'
Wave Elevation: 5200'
Restrooms: Vault toilet at the Wire Pass Trailhead.
Wire Pass Trailhead - From Kanab, drive 40 miles east on Highway
89. The turn onto House Rock Road is located on the south side of the road (right
side driving from Kanab). It is located between mile markers 25 and 26, before
a sweeping left hand curve in the road, prior to a guard rail protecting the
curve. House Rock Road soon becomes dirt and is impassible if wet. Continue 8.3
miles to the Wire Pass Trailhead parking lot, located on the right side of the
road. Display your parking permit in your windshield.
The Wave Route
Walk across the road, to the east, and locate the hikers path. Sign in at the
register box and read pertinent information. Soon the path drops into a wash.
Walk down the wash (east) for .6 miles. Look for the signed path of use on the
right side, above the wash, exiting Wire Pass Wash. Hiking becomes steep for
the next few hundred yards, as an old 4WD road is followed to the top of the
ridge and to the second register box. Once again, stop and sign in at the register.
Shortly after leaving the register box, there may be an indication that the trail
splits. Taking the left-hand fork is easier traveling. It continues east and
passes large rock domes on the flats below. After passing the domes, the trail
soon drops into a wash. It will be necessary to cross the wash and approach the
slickrock ridge to the east of the wash. Continue to the east, up and over the
slickrock ridge. Once on top, work down the east side (backside) of the ridge,
but start bearing to the south (hikers right), and stay as high as it is comfortable,
on the steep slopes of the ridge on the right.
Landmarks to locate the Wave
Vertical Crack or Notch
Looking south, a large slickrock mountain comes into view. There is a long, vertical
crack in the mountain. This crack becomes the landmark to steer toward for the
next mile. The Wave is located beneath the mountain with the crack. On the way,
remember to stay as high as comfort allows, hugging the sandstone slabs on hikers
right.
Twin Buttes
As travel continues south, two large buttes come into view. These are called
the Twin Buttes, and come almost halfway through the hike. They are easier passed
by walking up the slickrock bowl and going around the right side. A wash is encountered
.5 miles after rounding the Twin Buttes.
Multi-colored Domes
Peer across the wash and notice the multicolored domes on the opposite side of
the wash. These and the less obvious sandstone formations to the right are the
Wave. Walk down into the wash, locate the dead juniper tree and the sandy path
that leads up to the Wave.
The Wave
The area called Top Rock, is a collection of white Navajo sandstone formations.
The south end of Top Rock divides North and South Coyote Buttes. The Wave is
a chasm located on the northwest edge of Top Rock. The Wave is about .04 miles
south of the Arizona and Utah state line.
Top Arch
Most hikers never venture this far past the Wave. This section involves third
class scrambling. Only those experienced in slickrock scrambling should attempt
to go to the arch and beyond. Continue up the sandstone, heading toward the right.
Locate the arch at the top of the mountain. Find the easiest path to travel up
the steep slickrock. The arch is approached from the backside of the mountain.
From the arch, the red cones of South Coyote Butte are visible.
Alcove
This hidden treasure is rarely found by hikers. To locate the alcove, return
the way you approached the arch. This time stay to the left, hiking over crossbedded
sandstone. In the alcove, fine grains of sand have been tossed and turned, wielded
by wind, leaving a sculptured creation carefully piled in its bowels.
Melody Arch - Grotto - Window
From the alcove, scramble up and left of the alcove to attain the top. Once on
top, travel southeast, following the maze of ridges and desert tanks, staying
as high as possible. Steer toward the eastern edge of the cap rock. Soon a chasm
appears in front. Look down and into the grotto that contains the window and
Melody Arch. Backtrack far enough to find an easy route down into one of the
tanks, scramble out the backside and slide down into the Melody Arch Grotto.
Dinosaur Tracks
From the Wave: The small reptile tracks are on the other side of the wash, opposite
of the Wave. To locate them, cross back over the wash and travel up to the level
ground on the north side of the wash. Rather than retracing the return path back
to Wire Pass parking, hike to the west. Stay against the steep slickrock mountain,
as high as possible. The Wave can actually be seen from the tracks. The GPS coordinates
given are to one track. Look around to locate many more, within 100 yards. Many
of the tracks are found at the base of the steep slickrock slab to the north,
and are in pinkish colored rock, just before the slabs become seemingly impossible
to ascend. The footprints appear to be from small bipedal dinosaurs, most likely
Grallator (Megapnosaurus) and Anomoepus.
Best Trail Features: The Wave is a popular subject for nature
photography, but its not an end to a hike. The vast area has many features to
explore.
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