Coyote Buttes South · Much easier permit
South Coyote Buttes
The Wave's quieter twin — swirling teepees and vivid banded sandstone most visitors skip because they don't know the permit lottery is far easier to win. Same geological DNA. Different personality entirely.
Permit
Required (CBS lottery)
Lottery vs The Wave
Much easier to win
Vehicle
4WD required
From Page
~1 hr 50 min
From Kanab
~1 hr 50 min
Apply at
Recreation.gov
What is South Coyote Buttes?
The BLM divides the Coyote Buttes area of the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness into two permit zones: Coyote Buttes North (CBN), which contains The Wave, and Coyote Buttes South (CBS), which encompasses the formations to the south. Both zones sit within the same ancient Navajo sandstone, but they look completely different.
While The Wave is famous for its smooth, U-shaped troughs and precise symmetry, South Coyote Buttes is rawer and more varied. The Teepees dominate the landscape — dramatic conical formations with vivid horizontal color banding in red, white, and cream. Between them: swirling rock, honeycomb textures, and desert silence that feels earned in a way that crowded permit zones rarely do.
Most people focus entirely on The Wave and never attempt the CBS lottery. That's the reason it remains far less competed — and far more likely to yield a permit for persistent visitors.
The CBS Permit: How It Works
South Coyote Buttes uses the same Recreation.gov permit system as The Wave, but a separate lottery. The process is identical — advance online lottery months out, or walk-in lottery for upcoming dates — but the applicant pool is dramatically smaller.
Advance Lottery
Apply 4–6 months ahead at Recreation.gov under "Coyote Buttes South." Odds are substantially better than CBN.
Walk-In Lottery
Same process as The Wave walk-in — apply by 6 PM, results at 7:15 PM, pick up by 8:30 AM. Much better odds than CBN.
Strategy: If you're already in the area entering The Wave walk-in lottery and don't win, try the CBS lottery for the following day. The odds are significantly better, and the drive is similar. You may find your consolation prize is extraordinary.
What You'll See
The Teepees
Conical formations with distinctive horizontal color banding — layers of red, cream, and white Navajo sandstone exposed by erosion. The largest teepees stand several stories tall. Best photographed in early morning or late afternoon light.
Swirling rock surfaces
Like The Wave, parts of South Coyote Buttes show cross-bedded sandstone with flowing, abstract patterns. Less uniform than The Wave but arguably more surprising — you turn a corner and find something unexpected.
Open desert wilderness
Without the focused visitation of CBN, South Coyote Buttes often feels genuinely empty. The landscape is expansive, navigation requires care, and it rewards visitors willing to explore.
Access and Getting There
South Coyote Buttes is accessed from House Rock Valley Road, the same unpaved road used for The Wave, then via additional 4WD tracks heading south and east. The access is rougher than the CBN trailhead and requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle with good off-road tires.
4WD is not optional
Rule: Do not attempt South Coyote Buttes without a high-clearance 4WD vehicle — or a guided tour. Reason: The access tracks involve deep sand, loose rock, and remote terrain. Consequence: Getting stuck means a very expensive extraction in an area with no cell service, and potentially a wasted permit.
Guided Tours to South Coyote Buttes
Preferred Guide Partner
Kanab Tour Company
Offers guided backcountry tours to South Coyote Buttes and the wider Vermilion Cliffs area. Phone: 435-644-5525
Book Alternative TourFrequently asked questions
What is South Coyote Buttes?+
South Coyote Buttes (Coyote Buttes South, CBS) is the southern permit zone of the Coyote Buttes area in the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. It contains the Teepees, swirling sandstone formations, and vivid color banding — all within the same ancient Navajo sandstone as The Wave, but with a completely different landscape character.
Is the South Coyote Buttes permit easier to get than The Wave?+
Significantly easier. The CBS lottery sees a fraction of the applicants that compete for CBN (The Wave) permits. Both advance and walk-in lotteries are run through Recreation.gov. If you've been unable to win a Wave permit, the CBS permit is a realistic alternative on the same trip.
What are the Teepees at South Coyote Buttes?+
The Teepees are conical sandstone formations formed by differential erosion of alternating hard and soft sedimentary layers. Their vivid horizontal color banding in red, white, and cream makes them one of the most visually distinctive landforms in the Vermilion Cliffs. They're accessible within the CBS permit zone.
Do I need 4WD for South Coyote Buttes?+
Yes. The access tracks require high-clearance 4WD. Rental cars and 2WD vehicles will not make it. Guided tours are the practical option for most visitors who don't have an appropriate vehicle.