Coyote Buttes North
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Enjoy expert guidance to the best photography locations based on lighting and conditions
Receive professional photography instruction and on-site critique
Capture stunning images of rare, colorful sandstone formations and desert textures
Experience a remote wilderness setting with minimal crowds and untouched landscapes
Ideal for photographers, hikers, and serious desert exploration enthusiasts
North Coyote Buttes Draws Photographers to Iconic Desert Landscapes and Rare Formations
North Coyote Buttes continues to rank among the most sought-after photography destinations in the American Southwest, drawing visitors with its remarkable collection of sandstone formations. The area is home to world-famous sites such as The Wave, Sand Cove, The Boneyard, and Melody Arch, each offering intricate patterns and vivid colors shaped by millions of years of erosion. The remote region is widely regarded as one of the most visually distinctive desert landscapes in the world.
Access to the area requires a significant commitment, including a strenuous 3.5-mile cross-country hike each way from the Wire Pass Trailhead. Due to its fragile environment and growing popularity, entry is strictly regulated through a permit system. Visitors must secure authorization via either the online or walk-in lottery, making access highly competitive and adding to the exclusivity of the experience.
For those seeking assistance, guided services are available to help participants navigate the walk-in lottery process for a nominal fee, increasing their chances of obtaining a permit for The Wave. Once approved, groups are led into the heart of North Coyote Buttes, where they can explore its most iconic formations under carefully planned conditions that prioritize both safety and preservation of the landscape.
If permits are not obtained, alternative locations such as White Pocket offer equally striking photographic opportunities within the same region. Guides ensure visitors are taken to optimal shooting locations based on lighting and weather conditions, while also providing professional instruction and feedback. The experience combines technical photography guidance with exploration of one of the most visually extraordinary desert environments in the Southwest.
North Coyote Buttes Draws Photographers to Iconic Desert Landscapes and Rare Formations
North Coyote Buttes continues to rank among the most sought-after photography destinations in the American Southwest, drawing visitors with its remarkable collection of sandstone formations. The area is home to world-famous sites such as The Wave, Sand Cove, The Boneyard, and Melody Arch, each offering intricate patterns and vivid colors shaped by millions of years of erosion. The remote region is widely regarded as one of the most visually distinctive desert landscapes in the world.
Access to the area requires a significant commitment, including a strenuous 3.5-mile cross-country hike each way from the Wire Pass Trailhead. Due to its fragile environment and growing popularity, entry is strictly regulated through a permit system. Visitors must secure authorization via either the online or walk-in lottery, making access highly competitive and adding to the exclusivity of the experience.
For those seeking assistance, guided services are available to help participants navigate the walk-in lottery process for a nominal fee, increasing their chances of obtaining a permit for The Wave. Once approved, groups are led into the heart of North Coyote Buttes, where they can explore its most iconic formations under carefully planned conditions that prioritize both safety and preservation of the landscape.
If permits are not obtained, alternative locations such as White Pocket offer equally striking photographic opportunities within the same region. Guides ensure visitors are taken to optimal shooting locations based on lighting and weather conditions, while also providing professional instruction and feedback. The experience combines technical photography guidance with exploration of one of the most visually extraordinary desert environments in the Southwest.
- Guided backcountry photography tour
- Access to North Coyote Buttes
- Expert photographic instruction and critique
- Gratuities
$ 325
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Activity Provider: Action Photo Tours
Customer Reviews
Google Maps needs better placemarks for Coyote Buttes SOUTH and Coyote Buttes NORTH. The placemark for "Coyote Buttes" is kind of in the middle of both, which perhaps technically is correctly placed for being in between both, but these are two distinct and different areas, and each requires a different type of permit. I will leave my review of Coyote Buttes South here, as that is what we recently visited. First, the road to this area is 11.5 miles long, most of which is in fairly deep sand. You need 4wd, and more importantly, high clearance is absolutely required. Driving in the sand here isn't terribly difficult, but because it's driven constantly on what is essentially a one-lane track, there are deep ruts with a high center. You will absolutely get stuck driving a low slung passenger vehicle, even if you think you could navigate the sand, there is literally no way to avoid high centering. As far as the area goes, it's incredible! I can't compare to The Wave and Coyote Buttes North, as I haven't been there yet, but based on photos, the two areas are very comparable. The Southern Wave is very similar to the more famous Wave to the north. In fact, I'd say this would be as good or even a better alternative to The Wave because the permits are far easier to get (still have to apply beforehand, but far less popular, and no lottery, it's first come first served), there are actually fewer permits granted, and the formations and colors are almost identical, based on photos I've seen. We saw two parties the entire day, we practically had the place to ourselves, and there are endless areas to explore, every nook and cranny reveals something new and different. Also, there is much less hiking to get to the start of the formations, I believe the Wave is over 3 miles one way vs perhaps a half mile or so here. I would HIGHLY recommend downloading a GPS track of the road, and waypoints to several features, including the Southern Wave and areas with dinosaur tracks. It was actually confusing trying to find the Southern Wave, even with waypoints. There are really no trails in the area, and it's not clear where to go, even from the trailhead. There are a lot of good resources online for all of these things. We have Verizon, and it worked fairly well, which was a godsend having satellite maps available, as it makes navigating the area MUCH easier, to be able to see things from above relative to your location. Also, it would be possible to get "lost" out here, especially when wandering in awe at all of the amazing sights, it's easy to get disoriented. There is some up and down, elevation changes, and the parking area is not visible from the area with formations, so again, good to have a GPS track so you can backtrack to your vehicle. TL:DR, need 4x4 with high clearance, much easier to get permits (but still must apply online, first come first serve a few months in advance), very few people, very similar to the much more difficult Wave lottery area, just as nice, much less hiking to the actual formations, and highly, highly enjoyable, an absolutely unforgettable day!
We went the end of May 2025. Stunning geography, perfect weather, not a bad hike, recommend starting early at dawn. Take plenty of water. Good luck with the lottery, worth every step.
As we planned our trip to Coyote Buttes North, The Wave, I read as much as I could about how to navigate there and back safely with enough time to really enjoy this uniquely beautiful manifestation of nature's art. My wife read on Facebook that it was a relatively easy 6 mile walk there and back. However, the information at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) made me realize that this was not a simple walk in the park. The sandstone has no footprints, at least human ones, and it really is easy to become confused by the route back. I wisely contacted Lake Powell Scenic Tours and requested a guide. Tyler was a masterful guide for this magical area. He drove an appropriate vehicle to navigate the terrain and advised an early enough start to have cooler temperatures. Our route to and from The Wave was direct, and Tyler knew which routes were safest on ups and downs along the way. Being able to focus on the natural beauty of the area, and not navigation was sufficient, but Tyler's expert knowledge about geology and the events that nature shaped into The Wave enriched our day immeasurably. Once at The Wave, Tyler knew the best route through what is effectively a massive art piece, so that we got the maximum benefit. For example, showing us and taking pictures just like on the screen saver, ensuring that we had the critical photo spots to ourselves long enough to get the pictures that we had been dreaming of for so long. Thank you Lake Powel Scenic tours and Tyler for making our day at The Wave so spectacular. We will be back to visit the many other jewels in this region and will be sure to engage Lake Powell Scenic Tours, and hopefully Tyler again in the not too distant future.
