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Coyote Buttes South Advanced Permit permit area in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - backcountry hiking destination
One date at a time

Coyote Buttes South Advanced Permit

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument · Arizona

Teepee-striped sandstone in the same wilderness as The Wave, released on a calendar three months out instead of by lottery. No trails, no destinations, and a 4WD road to get there.

Get an alert when Coyote Buttes South opens on your dates.

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One Coyote Buttes South reservation is one date. Tell us every date you'd take and we'll ping you the second one of them opens up.

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Party

When it opens

3 months
First come, first served from the 1st of the month, three months before your entry date, at noon MountainYou book on Recreation.gov.

Source: recreation.gov

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Coyote Buttes South were gone within 10 minutes.

Coyote Buttes South reservation dates

Season
Year-round
route distance, out and back
8mi
elevation gain
400ft
daily quota
20people
max group size
6people

Coyote Buttes South elevation profile

Paw Hole Trailhead to South Coyote Buttes, one way

400 ft of descent · 2.5% average grade

Landmark

Paw Hole Trailhead

Primary access point. Rough dirt road, high clearance recommended.

Mile 0 of 3
0 Paw Hole Trailhead3 South Coyote Buttes
Mile
0
Elevation
4,600 ft

Coyote Buttes South landmarks

How to get a Coyote Buttes South permit

As of September 2026, Coyote Buttes South in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona requires a permit issued via reservation. Coyote Buttes South rates 6/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Coyote Buttes South permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Coyote Buttes South route covers 8 miles with 400 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate.

Type
Day Use
Location
Colorado Plateau, AZ

  1. Step 1: Create a Recreation.gov account

    Sign up at Recreation.gov if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Book at Recreation.gov
Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation huntingRecreation.gov tips

Coyote Buttes South pro tips

  1. Set an alarm for 12:00 noon Mountain on the 1st: the whole month three months out goes on sale at once
  2. Cancellations here do come back: BLM says a cancelled permit "is allocated back to the calendar so that others may reserve it"
  3. You must carry a printed permit; BLM does not accept a phone screen
  4. Lone Tree is the only trailhead a two-wheel-drive high-clearance vehicle may reach, and it costs you an extra 5 miles round trip through deep sand
  5. Skip a summer date if you can: BLM records fatalities from heat-related illness in this wilderness

More on Coyote Buttes South: Live availability activityWhen Coyote Buttes South permits open upChance of an opening

How much a Coyote Buttes South permit costs

Coyote Buttes South permit fee: $6 reservation + $5/person.

The Coyote Buttes South hike

Distance
8 miles
Elevation Gain
400 ft
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
4-8 hours
Difficulty
Moderate
Elevation Range
4,600 - 4,800 ft

Explore 190-million-year-old sandstone formations as spectacular as The Wave, booked from a calendar three months out, and a cancellation alert catches the days that open up.

About this permit

Coyote Buttes South offers sandstone formations comparable to The Wave, on permits that are far easier to get. The zone contains multiple named features (Cotton Candy, Paw Hole, The Teepees) plus extensive unnamed terrain.

BLM caps the area at 20 people a day: 10 through the online calendar, released three months out, and 10 through the Daily Lottery. Demand is lower than at Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), and a cancellation alert checks the calendar for you.

The route

From the Paw Hole Trailhead (reached via Wire Pass Road or Paria Outpost), routes fan out to various formations. Unlike The Wave, there's no single iconic feature here. Instead, the entire zone is extraordinary.

The Cotton Candy, Paw Hole, and The Teepees are the named attractions, but countless unnamed formations reward exploration. Navigation is by GPS waypoints and visual landmarks. There is no trail.

Why it matters

Coyote Buttes South holds formations every bit as remarkable as its famous northern neighbor, and it is far easier to get into. BLM caps both areas, and the capacity tells the story: Coyote Buttes North is capped at 64 people a day across the advance and daily lotteries, and South permits are often still available in peak season. Getting there is the trade: the access roads need high clearance and four-wheel drive.

The feeling

You walk through a landscape that makes no sense. Sandstone folded and twisted by forces that operated 190 million years ago. Colors swirl in patterns that seem painted rather than geological. The Cotton Candy formation lives up to its name. Paw Hole's perfect circles defy explanation. And you might be the only person here.

Coyote Buttes South hike highlights

  1. No single iconic feature. Multiple formations to explore
  2. 6-10 miles of wandering depending on route
  3. No marked trails. GPS navigation required
  4. Far easier permits than The Wave
  5. Maximum 20 people per day, not 20 permits: a party of six uses six of the twenty (BLM: "A daily maximum of 20 people")

How hard the Coyote Buttes South hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required2/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
  • Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential1/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity4/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5

Best for: Explorers comfortable with GPS navigation seeking Wave-quality formations without Wave-level competition.

Recommended experience: GPS navigation experience. Desert hiking helpful.

Not recommended for: Those who need marked trails or single iconic destinations.

Trailhead information

Cottonwood Cove Trailhead

Primary

Primary southern access to the teepee formations.

  • No restrooms
  • No water
  • No Service

Before you rely on this water

There is no water anywhere in the permit area. BLM's guidance for this wilderness is to "carry at least a gallon of water per person."

Parking

Small undeveloped pullout at the end of the sand track.

Getting There

Four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle required. BLM: the roads to Cottonwood Cove and Paw Hole "are composed of deep sand with sections of rough rock." Experience driving in deep sand matters as much as the vehicle.

Nearest Services

Kanab, Utah or Page, Arizona. Nothing closer.

Trailhead information

Paw Hole Trailhead

Alternate

Northern access, shortest walk to the first formations.

  • No restrooms
  • No water
  • No Service

Before you rely on this water

No water. Carry at least a gallon per person, per BLM.

Getting There

Four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle required: same deep sand as Cottonwood Cove.

Nearest Services

Kanab or Page.

Trailhead information

Lone Tree Trailhead

Alternate

The two-wheel-drive fallback, at a cost.

  • No restrooms
  • No water
  • No Service

Before you rely on this water

No water. The extra mileage from this trailhead makes that worse, not better.

Getting There

BLM: "Lone Tree is the only trailhead that may be accessible with a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle when road conditions are good. However, accessing the permit area using this option adds an additional 5-mile round trip hike through deep sand."

Nearest Services

Kanab or Page.

When to hike Coyote Buttes South

Best time to visit

March-May and September-November. Summer is dangerously hot. Winter is possible but cold.

Peak
March-May and September-November
Shoulder
Late February and early December

  • Spring

    Mild days, firm sand after winter moisture, long light.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: The most reliable season BLM names
    • Advantage: Comfortable walking temperatures
    • Advantage: Roads usually at their firmest
    • Challenge: Wind
    • Challenge: Cold nights if you are camping outside the permit area

  • Summer

    Air temperatures often exceed 100°F, amplified by sand radiating heat back. No shade, no water.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Easiest permit dates to get
    • Challenge: Heat-related fatalities have occurred in this wilderness
    • Challenge: Dry powdery sand roads demand more clearance and more driving experience
    • Challenge: Monsoon flash floods from mid-July

  • Fall

    The other reliable season. Cooling temperatures, settled roads after the monsoon.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Comfortable temperatures
    • Advantage: Low-angle light on the banding
    • Advantage: Monsoon rain often packs the sand down
    • Challenge: Shorter days
    • Challenge: Late monsoon storms can still wash roads out

  • Winter

    Frequently below freezing overnight; snow and ice possible on the slickrock.

    Crowd level · low

    • Advantage: Easiest dates to reserve
    • Advantage: Clear dry air
    • Challenge: Hypothermia risk
    • Challenge: Ice makes footing on sandstone genuinely dangerous
    • Challenge: Short daylight for a long drive

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (4,600 ft)

Today

🌫️

60°

47°

52%

Wed

🌧️

71°

51°

39%

Thu

☀️

76°

54°

Fri

☀️

77°

59°

Sat

☀️

78°

60°

Sun

☀️

75°

61°

Mon

🌧️

72°

58°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Coyote Buttes South photography guide

Golden Hour

Late afternoon light brings out the warm colors in the sandstone. Sunrise illuminates the eastern formations.

Best Light

Low-angle light (morning or evening) enhances the swirl patterns. Overcast days provide even illumination for detail shots.

Beat the Crowds

Already less crowded than The Wave. Weekday visits offer near-solitude.

Classic Shots

  1. Cotton Candy formation in warm light
  2. Paw Hole perfect circles
  3. The Teepees against blue sky
  4. Detail shots of sandstone swirls
  5. Panorama of the entire South zone

Coyote Buttes South rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • GPS with downloaded waypoints
  • 1 gallon water minimum per person
  • Sun protection
  • Sturdy footwear for slickrock
  • BLM permit and photo guide

Recommended gear

  • Camera with polarizing filter
  • Tripod for detail shots
  • Extra water beyond minimum
  • Snacks for full-day exploration
  • Layers for temperature changes

Rules & regulations

  1. 01Permit required: online calendar or Daily Lottery
  2. 02Maximum 20 people per day
  3. 03Day use only (no camping)
  4. 04GPS navigation essential
  5. 05Stay on slickrock (protect cryptobiotic soil)

Hazards & considerations

  • Navigation challenges. No trails, GPS required.
  • Dehydration. No water on route.
  • Rough access road. High clearance recommended.
  • Flash floods in washes
  • Extreme heat in summer

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Coyote Buttes South.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Coyote Buttes South · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

Some links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.

Coyote Buttes South FAQ

How do I get a Coyote Buttes South permit?

Reservations open at 12:00 noon Mountain Time on the 1st of each month for the whole of the third month ahead: August 1 releases November, and so on. BLM will not sell you one for today or tomorrow. Everything is booked on Recreation.gov permit 16851.

How many Coyote Buttes South permits are issued per day?

BLM caps the area at 20 people a day: "10 people are allocated through the online calendar system" and "the other 10 people are awarded through the Daily Lottery, a separate process than this online calendar." Maximum group size is 6, and everyone counts, including infants.

Is Coyote Buttes South the same as The Wave?

No, and BLM leads its own page with "This is Not The Wave." The Wave is in Coyote Buttes North, a separate permit area with a separate quota. A Coyote Buttes South permit is "not valid for other permit areas such as Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) or Paria Canyon Overnight."

Do I need 4WD for the Coyote Buttes South permit area?

For two of the three trailheads, yes. BLM: "Four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle is required for Cottonwood Cove & Paw Hole Trailheads. The roads accessing these trailheads are composed of deep sand with sections of rough rock." Lone Tree may work in a two-wheel-drive high-clearance vehicle when conditions are good, at the cost of an extra 5-mile round trip on foot.

What does a Coyote Buttes South permit cost?

A $6 reservation fee plus $5 per person and per dog, all non-refundable. No interagency pass gets you a discount: BLM says the America the Beautiful series does not apply here.

Coyote Buttes South trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

No active conditions reported

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Trip Reports

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Alternatives to a Coyote Buttes South permit

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    The Wave (Coyote Buttes North)

    The famous formation, on a much more contested lottery.

    Tradeoffs

    More iconic, but capped at 64 permits a day, and South is usually the one you can actually get.

  • Similar ExperienceNo permit needed

    White Pocket

    Brain rock formations without permit requirement.

    Tradeoffs

    No permit needed but requires 4WD and careful navigation.

Where to stay near Coyote Buttes South

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