Coyote Buttes

Coyote Buttes is a compact, highly eroded sandstone area on the Arizona-Utah border within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs region, noted for spectacular cross-bedded, banded sandstone formations. It is world-famous for the formation known as The Wave in Coyote Buttes North.

The area contains both Coyote Buttes North and South, each with distinctive geological features, colorful striated rock, and narrow slot-like gullies and ridges formed by wind and water erosion. Hiking in the area involves unmarked routes and fragile surfaces that are easily impacted by foot traffic.

The region is managed to limit visitor numbers and protect the fragile sandstone; access requires a permit issued by the Bureau of Land Management with a strict daily quota for Coyote Buttes North. Visitors should be prepared for remote desert conditions, navigation without formal trails and limited shade or water.

Situated in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs landscape, the buttes sit on the Arizona-Utah border and are accessed from trailheads off local roads near the small towns on the edge of the Vermilion Cliffs area.

• Permit quota: Permits are required year-round for visits; Coyote Buttes North (home to The Wave) is limited to 20 advance online permits and 10 walk-in permits each day to reduce erosion and crowding.
• Management and conditions: Located within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs area and managed by the Bureau of Land Management, offering fragile sandstone features and narrow access routes that require navigation skills and desert preparedness.

What to See #

• Coyote Buttes North: Coyote Buttes North - famous for the sandstone formation known as The Wave, a narrow, undulating sandstone ridge with vibrant cross-bedded banding; access is by daily permit only and entry is strictly limited.
• Coyote Buttes South: Coyote Buttes South - larger area with a wide range of eroded sandstone formations, bowls and striped badlands accessible by permit, with different visitor patterns and fewer restrictions than the North in some seasons.