Information
Landmark: The WaveCity: Kanab
Country: USA Utah
Continent: North America
The Wave, Kanab, USA Utah, North America
Overview
Tucked into Coyote Buttes North in the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, right near the Utah–Arizona border, the Wave ripples across the desert in bold, swirling stripes, making it one of the Southwest’s most unforgettable sandstone landmarks.With its rippling curves, bursts of color, and almost otherworldly textures, this desert marvel draws photographers, hikers, and landscape lovers from across the globe, all eager to see its sandstone waves glow in the afternoon sun.The Wave rises from layers of Navajo Sandstone, shaped some 190 million years ago when sweeping desert dunes slowly compressed into solid rock.Over the years, wind and water cut into the rock, shaping bold ridges, sweeping curves, and swirling lines that give the formation its striking look.Bands of deep red, warm orange, and pale cream ripple through the sandstone, their fine striations curving like liquid paused mid-pour, holding motion still in the rock.Access to The Wave is strictly limited, with permits required to protect its delicate sandstone curves.Each day, just 20 permits are handed out-10 through an online lottery you enter ahead of time, and 10 for those willing to line up in person-so locking in your plans early is key.It’s about a 6‑mile round trip from the Wire Pass Trailhead to reach the formation, winding through soft, ankle-deep sand, over jagged rock, and along stretches where the trail all but disappears.Good navigation matters out here-there aren’t any maintained trails, so you’ll be steering by ridgelines, a crooked pine, or a stack of sun-bleached cairns.Hiking to The Wave feels like an adventure in itself, with each step crunching over sunbaked sandstone before you even reach the stunning formation.Around you stretches open desert, with wind-scoured cliffs and sandstone fins streaked in red and gold.When you arrive at The Wave, towering ridges twist and ripple across the sandstone, catching the light, and each curve opens up a fresh angle to explore or photograph.At sunrise and again in the late afternoon, the reds and oranges glow richer, like embers in stone, while midday light sharpens every ridge and fine striation.The Wave sits far from everything, its silence broken only by the wind, and the place feels like it belongs to another world.The desert air hangs still, broken now and then by a soft rush of wind, and the endless stretch of sand invites a calm, thoughtful pause.Thanks to the permit system, the formation stays quiet, so visitors can wander its twisting curves and ripple-like patterns without rush, soaking in the surreal landscape.Look closely and you’ll spot delicate erosion lines, faint bands of color running through the rock, and even tiny fossilized ripples that once marked the surface of ancient dunes.Light and shadow dance across the rippling surfaces, shifting their look from soft gold in the morning to deep blue by dusk.Narrow crevices, smooth sculpted ridges, and the sudden splash of a cactus in bloom all add to the site’s rich feel and striking look.The Wave shows nature’s artistry at its finest, carved by wind and water over millions of years into rippling bands of red, gold, and cream that seem to flow beneath your feet.Rare, breathtaking, and set in a delicate habitat, it draws anyone willing to cross the desert’s heat and dust for a glimpse of one of the Southwest’s most unforgettable sights.
