Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Coyote Buttes

Coyote Buttes is a remote area of colorful sandstone formations located along the Arizona-Utah border within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, renowned for its striking geological features shaped by ancient wind-blown dunes and modern erosion.^[1]^[2] The region, managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is located within the approximately 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness and is divided into Coyote Buttes North and Coyote Buttes South, each requiring permits to access due to the fragile nature of the terrain.^[2]^[3] Coyote Buttes North, centered around the iconic The Wave—a wave-like sandstone structure—is accessible via a strenuous 6.4-mile round-trip hike with no developed trails, limiting daily visitors to 64 through a lottery system to preserve the wilderness character.^[4]^[2] Geologically, Coyote Buttes consists primarily of the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, the largest ancient erg (sand sea) in Earth's history, which preserves cyclic cross-bedding from wind patterns and displays vibrant colors from diagenetic iron oxide processes during burial and fluid interactions.^[1] These formations, sculpted by water incision and prevailing winds, include unique features such as alcoves, bowls, bluffs, dinosaur trackways, and Mars-analog weathering cracks, making the area significant for studies in stratigraphy, sedimentology, and geomorphology.^[1] Coyote Buttes South offers similar sandstone vistas but emphasizes solitude, with access requiring a high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicle over rough roads followed by hikes through deep sand, and permits also allocated via lottery to minimize environmental impact.^[3] The entire area lacks facilities, demanding visitors to have navigation skills, physical fitness, and adherence to Leave No Trace principles to protect its pristine, visually spectacular landscape.^[2]^[3]

Location and geography

Boundaries and extent

Coyote Buttes is a relatively small area along the Arizona-Utah border, primarily in Kane County, Utah, and Coconino County, Arizona.^[5] This region lies within the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, which is part of the broader Colorado Plateau physiographic province. Elevations in the area range from about 4,500 to 5,500 feet, contributing to its high-desert landscape characterized by undulating sandstone terrain.^[6] The area is administratively divided into Coyote Buttes North, which includes the renowned formation known as The Wave, and Coyote Buttes South, managed separately by the Bureau of Land Management to control access and preserve resources.^[2] The Paria River serves as a natural eastern boundary, separating Coyote Buttes from the adjacent Paria Canyon.^[7] These divisions reflect the area's position within the larger 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, where Coyote Buttes represents a distinctive subset of erosional features carved from the Navajo Sandstone.^[2] Access to Coyote Buttes typically begins at the Wire Pass Trailhead, a key entry point off House Rock Valley Road.^[8] The region is situated roughly 40 miles south of the town of Kanab, Utah, providing a gateway for visitors exploring southern Utah and northern Arizona.^[9]

Environmental conditions

Coyote Buttes experiences an arid desert climate characterized by extreme temperature variations and low precipitation. Summers are intensely hot, with daytime highs often reaching up to 100°F (38°C), while winters bring cold conditions, with nighttime lows dropping as low as 0°F (-18°C). Annual precipitation averages 6-8 inches, primarily occurring as sporadic monsoonal rains in late summer or winter snow, which frequently result in flash floods that can rapidly alter the landscape and pose significant risks to visitors.^[10]^[11] Vegetation in the area is sparse and adapted to the harsh, dry conditions, dominated by drought-tolerant shrubs such as big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), with occasional clumps of cacti like hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus spp.) dotting the sandy terrain. The region's fragile cryptobiotic soil crusts, formed by cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, and algae, play a crucial role in stabilizing the loose dune soils, preventing erosion, and retaining moisture in this water-scarce environment; however, these crusts are highly susceptible to damage from foot traffic, which can take decades to recover.^[12]^[13] Wildlife is diverse yet adapted to the arid setting, including desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), coyotes (Canis latrans), western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox), and birds of prey such as golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and reintroduced California condors (Gymnogyps californianus). There are no permanent surface water sources, but ephemeral pools form in sandstone depressions after rainfall, providing critical, temporary hydration for animals and highlighting the area's ecological fragility.^[11] High winds, often exceeding 30 mph, are a defining feature that continuously shape the buttes through abrasion and sand transport, contributing to the formation of iconic features like The Wave while creating hazards such as sudden sandstorms that reduce visibility and increase the risk of disorientation for hikers.

Geological formation

Origin of the Navajo Sandstone

The Navajo Sandstone, which forms the bedrock of Coyote Buttes, was deposited during the Early Jurassic period, approximately 200 to 180 million years ago, in a vast erg or sand sea spanning a subtropical desert environment across what is now the southwestern United States.^[14]^[15]^[16] This ancient desert featured enormous windblown dunes that migrated across the landscape, creating thick sequences of cross-bedded sandstone layers preserved today. The formation's depositional setting was influenced by regional tectonics and a drying climate following the Late Triassic, with the erg representing one of the largest known aeolian systems in Earth's history, covering an estimated 140,000 to 150,000 square miles from Arizona and Utah northward into parts of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming.^[17]^[18] The cross-stratification within the Navajo Sandstone provides key evidence of the paleoenvironment, with large-scale sets of inclined bedding planes indicating dune migration and prevailing wind directions primarily from the north-northwest.^[17] These cross-beds, formed by avalanching sand on the lee sides of dunes, can reach thicknesses of up to 100 feet (30 m) in places, reflecting the scale of the original dune fields that accumulated quartz-rich sands derived from eroding highlands to the north and east.^[19] The northern margin of the erg may have been subtly influenced by the encroaching Sundance Sea, an epicontinental seaway that later transgressed from the north during the Middle Jurassic, though the primary deposition occurred in hyper-arid conditions with minimal marine input.^[20] Following deposition, the Navajo Sandstone was buried beneath younger Mesozoic sediments, including marine and fluvial deposits from the Middle and Late Jurassic, reaching depths of several thousand feet that facilitated early cementation and preservation of the dune structures.^[21] This burial persisted through much of the Mesozoic era until the Laramide Orogeny, a mountain-building event between 70 and 40 million years ago, uplifted the Colorado Plateau region through compressional tectonics associated with the subduction of the Farallon Plate beneath North America. The subsequent exposure of the sandstone to subaerial erosion has shaped the modern landscape of Coyote Buttes, revealing the ancient dune remnants.^[17]

Coloration and diagenesis

The diagenesis of the Navajo Sandstone in Coyote Buttes primarily involved the cementation of quartz sand grains by silica through quartz overgrowths and by calcite in localized concretions, which helped preserve the rock's porosity while facilitating later fluid interactions. Iron oxide minerals played a central role in coloration, with hematite (Fe₂O₃) forming grain coatings and cements that stained the sandstone in shades of red, orange, and pink, while goethite and limonite produced yellow and brown hues. These iron oxides were mobilized and precipitated during groundwater percolation in the late Cretaceous to early Paleogene (approximately 50-80 million years ago), when eastward-flowing paleofluids interacted with the porous sandstone under Laramide-aged faulting influences. Recent studies (as of 2025) using concretions from the Navajo Sandstone have revealed records of long-term geomagnetic variations, further illuminating diagenetic processes.^[22]^[23]^[24] Banding patterns in the Coyote Buttes sandstone arose from fluctuating water tables and episodic shifts between oxidizing and reducing conditions during diagenesis, leading to alternating layers of iron-rich reds, oranges, pinks, and bleached whites. Oxidizing environments promoted hematite precipitation, creating vibrant red bands, whereas reducing fluids—likely hydrocarbon-bearing—dissolved iron oxides in higher-permeability zones, resulting in white or pale layers that contrast sharply with surrounding colors. These patterns often appear as Liesegang bands on scales of centimeters to meters, driven by diffusive iron transport across redox boundaries and overprinted on earlier color facies.^[23]^[25] Modern iron oxide precipitation from seeps in the vadose zone further enhances the surface coloration, as field studies have documented the formation of micro-concretions (less than 2 mm in diameter) and secondary hematite crystals in orange and yellow bands. These ongoing processes involve the mobilization of dissolved iron in shallow groundwater, which precipitates upon exposure to oxygen, adding fresh stains to weathered exposures. Permeability variations, typically 10-100 millidarcies in uncemented grainflow and windripple strata but dropping to hundredths of a millidarcy in tighter interdune deposits, control the distribution of these colors by directing fluid pathways and limiting iron transport in low-permeability zones.^[23]^[26] These diagenetic colors are vividly showcased in formations like The Wave.^[23]

Erosional features

The Wave and similar formations

The Wave is an iconic sandstone formation in Coyote Buttes North, consisting of intersecting U-shaped troughs carved into the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, with one primary trough measuring approximately 62 feet wide by 118 feet long and a narrower secondary trough about 7 feet wide by 52 feet long.^[27] This curving wall, rising roughly 10 feet high and extending around 150 feet in length, exemplifies differential erosion that highlights the cross-bedded layers of ancient petrified dunes, creating smooth, flowing contours in vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows derived from iron oxide diagenesis.^[1] Access to The Wave requires a special permit from the Bureau of Land Management and involves a strenuous 3-mile one-way hike from the Wire Pass trailhead through unmarked desert terrain.^[28] Similar erosional features in the area include the Second Wave, a smaller alcove nearby that mirrors the undulating patterns of The Wave on a more intimate scale, and the Top of the Wave, an elevated vantage point offering views of the petrified dunes' layered contours and subtle color variations. These structures showcase the same aeolian cross-stratification, where wind-deposited sands from the Early Jurassic have been sculpted into wave-like forms, emphasizing the region's unique preservation of ancient desert dynamics.^[1] The formations have developed through wind and occasional water erosion exploiting weaknesses in the variably cemented Navajo Sandstone layers, following initial incision along joints during regional uplift.^[29] Wind remains the dominant force today, abrading the surfaces to accentuate bedding planes and create erosional steps aligned with prevailing westerly directions, while sporadic flash floods in the arid environment contribute to polishing the sandstone, imparting a distinctive glass-like sheen to these north-area features.

Buttes in Coyote Buttes South

Coyote Buttes South, within the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, showcases dispersed mound-like buttes and canyon features shaped primarily by fluvial and joint-controlled erosion processes.^[30] Unlike the more concentrated, horizontally layered structures to the north, the erosional landscape here highlights vertical jointing and isolated spire-like pinnacles, resulting from near-vertical fractures and joints linked to Laramide-aged faulting and subsequent Colorado River incision. Prominent features include the Pastel Buttes, a series of layered mounds displaying cyclic eolian cross-strata in red, orange, pink, and purple hues derived from hematite and goethite iron oxides. These buttes, along with nearby bleached white sandstone exposures up to 100 meters thick, exemplify broader fluvial erosion that has carved rounded, pastel-toned elevations through advective fluid flow and iron mobilization across six diagenetic facies, each tens of meters thick. The region also contains slot canyons such as The Crack and The Ribbon, narrow passages sculpted along vertical joints with heights reaching up to 200 feet in the Navajo Sandstone exposures exceeding 200 meters thick. These canyons vary in width from 1 to 10 feet, emphasizing the area's emphasis on vertical erosion that produces spire-like pinnacles and erosion-resistant fins from iron-rich Liesegang bands, contrasting with the horizontal aeolian bedding dominant elsewhere. Overall coloration in these southern features stems from iron oxide distributions, with bleached zones enhancing the visual contrast in the dispersed landscape.

Paleontology

Discovery of the dinosaur trackway

The dinosaur trackway at Coyote Buttes was first noticed in the early 2000s by hikers exploring the remote area and subsequently reported to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rangers, who documented initial observations around that time.^[31] The site, spanning approximately 0.75 acres (0.3 hectares) and containing over 1,000 dinosaur prints, is located about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) northeast of the iconic Wave formation in Coyote Buttes North, within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness.^[32]^[33] Erosion processes in the Navajo Sandstone during the late 20th century gradually exposed the surface, revealing the densely packed impressions that had been preserved beneath overlying sediments.^[32] In 2005, University of Utah geologist Marjorie Chan visited the site at the invitation of a puzzled BLM ranger, initially mistaking the features for erosion-formed potholes.^[31] Further examinations by Chan and master's student Winston Seiler confirmed the depressions as dinosaur tracks, leading to formal scientific documentation. The trackway's remarkable density—averaging up to 12 prints per square meter in places—prompted the popular moniker "dinosaur dance floor" among researchers, highlighting its significance as a rare trample surface from the Early Jurassic.^[31]^[34] This discovery garnered attention from paleontologists at the University of Utah, culminating in peer-reviewed publications in 2008 that detailed the assemblage, including theropod prints among others.^[32]^[35] The findings underscored the area's paleontological value, drawing institutional interest for further study while emphasizing the need for careful visitation to avoid damage.^[31]

Description and interpretation of tracks

The vertebrate track assemblage at Coyote Buttes primarily consists of small theropod tracks measuring 5–15 cm in length, characterized by tridactyl morphology with impressions of long, sharp claws.^[36] These tracks often appear on dune slopes and include rare crouching traces that preserve impressions of all four limbs, an ischial callosity, and a tail, indicating behaviors such as resting or pausing on the substrate.^[36] Additionally, Navahopus sauropodomorph tracks, identified as a new ichnospecies Navahopus coyoteensis, feature quadrupedal pes impressions approximately 20 cm long with tetradactyl morphology, deep hypices between digits III and IV, and prominent inward-directed pollex claw marks on the tridactyl manus.^[36] Rare tail drag marks accompany some tracks, suggesting interactions on a moist surface that allowed for such preservation. These tracks are preserved on an interdune surface within the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, dated to approximately 200 million years ago during the Early Jurassic epoch.^[36] The substrate conditions at the time point to a wet interdune or lakeside environment, where periodic pluvial events created damp sands amid the dominant aeolian dune field, enabling the co-occurrence and overprinting of tracks from multiple dinosaur species, including theropods and basal sauropodomorphs. This high-density trample surface, once interpreted as evidence of chaotic herding or social behavior among dinosaurs, has been reexamined in a 2021 study published in PALAIOS, which argues that many features previously identified as biogenic traces—such as small, irregular pits on the "dinosaur dance floor"—are instead modern weathering pits resulting from dissolution and erosion processes on the exposed sandstone surface.^[37] The tracks provide key insights into Early Jurassic dinosaur behavior and locomotion in a dynamic desert ecosystem. Crouching theropod traces suggest adaptive postures for stability on steep dune faces (up to 32° inclination), possibly for resting or vigilance, while sauropodomorph trackways indicate quadrupedal progression up slopes, initially laterally before shifting to direct ascent.^[36] Locomotion speeds for the smaller theropod forms are estimated at 5–10 km/h based on stride lengths and trackway patterns, reflecting walking gaits typical of non-avian theropods navigating interdune areas. Overall, the assemblage highlights diverse theropod-sauropodomorph interactions in a wetter microhabitat within an expansive erg, contributing to understandings of dinosaur paleoecology during the Early Jurassic.^[36]

Visitation and access

Permit requirements

Access to Coyote Buttes is regulated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) through a permit system designed to control visitor numbers and minimize environmental impact in this designated wilderness area. Permits are required for all day-use visits to both Coyote Buttes North and Coyote Buttes South, with no overnight camping allowed in the permit areas. Applications are processed exclusively through Recreation.gov, and all permits are non-refundable and non-transferable.^[38] Coyote Buttes North, home to The Wave, limits permits to a maximum of 64 people per day to preserve the site's delicate features. Of these, 48 spots (12 groups) are allocated via an advanced online lottery, where applications can be submitted anytime during a given month for hiking dates four months in the future, with results announced on the first day of the following month at 9:00 AM Mountain Time. The remaining 16 spots (4 groups) are available through a daily online lottery, accessible only from within a designated geofence area using the Recreation.gov mobile app or browser, with applications accepted from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM two days prior to the desired date and results posted by 7:15 PM that evening. Successful daily lottery applicants must confirm payment by 8:00 AM the next day and attend an in-person safety briefing at 8:30 AM before picking up the permit. The non-refundable application fee for the advanced lottery is $6 per entry, while selected applicants pay an additional recreation fee of $7 per person (including infants) and per dog; dogs are permitted but must be listed on the permit. Group sizes are capped at 6 people, who must remain together throughout the hike, and no vehicles are allowed beyond the Wire Pass trailhead.^[4]^[39] For Coyote Buttes South, daily permits are limited to 20 people (up to 10 groups). Half are issued through an advanced online reservation system on a first-come, first-served basis, opening at noon Mountain Time on the first day of the month three months prior to the hiking month (e.g., applications for August open May 1). The other 10 spots are awarded via a daily lottery similar to that for the North, requiring geofence presence and mobile application two days in advance. The fee is $5 per person and per dog, with dogs allowed if included on the permit; the maximum group size is also 6, and high-clearance, four-wheel-drive vehicles are required for access due to deep sand roads, with no vehicles permitted beyond designated trailheads.^[40]^[41] In peripheral areas such as the upper sections of Buckskin Gulch, self-issued day-use permits are available without a lottery, purchasable online or at trailhead kiosks through Recreation.gov for $6 per person aged 13 and over (children 12 years and under free), $6 per dog, though registration is mandatory and there is no daily cap. These permits do not grant access to the core Coyote Buttes areas. To safeguard fragile cryptobiotic soils and other sensitive features, off-trail travel is strictly prohibited, and visitors must adhere to established paths or natural routes to avoid erosion and biological damage. Lottery periods operate year-round, but applications for winter visits (November through February) typically open from the preceding October through January via the monthly advanced cycles.^[42]^[43]

Recommended hikes and safety

Exploring Coyote Buttes requires preparation due to the remote desert environment and lack of marked trails, with permits necessary for access to both North and South areas.^[2]^[3] In Coyote Buttes North, the primary recommended route is a 6.4-mile round-trip hike from the Wire Pass Trailhead to The Wave, rated as strenuous and typically taking 3 to 5 hours depending on pace and exploration.^[2]^[44] The path involves navigating sandy washes, rocky sections, and undulating terrain with approximately 1,200 feet of total elevation gain, demanding good wayfinding skills using maps or GPS.^[44]^[45] For Coyote Buttes South, popular exploratory loops range from 4 to 8 miles, often starting from the Stateline or Cottonwood Cove Trailhead and targeting features like the Pastel Buttes or The Crack, with durations of 2 to 6 hours based on the extent of wandering.^[46]^[47] These off-trail routes feature deep sand, minor scrambling over rock formations, and require route-finding, making them moderately challenging for those comfortable with unstructured desert hiking.^[3]^[48] Key safety considerations include the risk of flash floods, particularly in washes; hikers should monitor weather forecasts through the National Weather Service (NOAA) and avoid the area during rain or high precipitation warnings.^[4] Heat exhaustion is a major hazard in summer, so carry at least one gallon of water per person and electrolyte supplements, along with sun protection and light clothing.^[45]^[49] Navigation challenges arise from unmarked paths, necessitating a GPS device, topographic map, and compass to prevent disorientation in the expansive wilderness.^[2] Rattlesnakes inhabit the region, so watch footing in rocky areas, wear sturdy closed-toe boots, and maintain awareness, especially during warmer months when they are active.^[50] The optimal visiting periods are March to May or September to November, when temperatures are milder (typically 50-80°F) and flash flood risks are lower compared to summer monsoons.^[49]^[45] For photography of the striped sandstone formations, plan hikes around sunrise or sunset to capture soft lighting and minimize harsh midday shadows that obscure details.^[51]

Conservation efforts

Management by authorities

Coyote Buttes is overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, which was designated on November 9, 2000, to protect its unique geological and biological features.^[11] The management involves interagency coordination with the National Park Service, particularly for adjacent areas like the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, to address shared trailheads and cross-boundary resources.^[52] BLM policies emphasize sustainable visitation to minimize environmental degradation, including adherence to Leave No Trace principles such as packing out all waste and avoiding damage to cryptobiotic soil crusts.^[49] These guidelines also promote responsible photography by encouraging visitors to stay on designated routes and respect fragile formations, with rangers patrolling to enforce compliance.^[53] Visitor impacts are monitored annually through collaborative programs with Northern Arizona University, focusing on recreation effects like trail erosion and vegetation disturbance in Coyote Buttes.^[54] The BLM partners with universities, including the Utah Museum of Natural History, for geological and paleontological research, such as mapping dinosaur track sites to inform protection strategies.^[55] Revenue from permit fees is reinvested directly into the monument, funding trail maintenance, facility upkeep in permit areas, and educational resources like informational kiosks at trailheads to promote conservation awareness.^[56]^[57] This supports ongoing efforts to mitigate issues like soil compaction from foot traffic.^[54]

Challenges and protections

Coyote Buttes faces several environmental threats primarily driven by human activity and regional climatic shifts. Foot traffic from visitors erodes fragile biological soil crusts, known as cryptobiotic crusts, which stabilize the arid desert soils and support native plant life; current levels of use already cause minor degradation to these crusts, increasing vulnerability to wind and water erosion. Vandalism, including carvings and graffiti on delicate Navajo Sandstone formations like The Wave, further damages irreplaceable geologic features, with recent incidents involving initials etched into rock walls reported in 2025.^[58] Climate change exacerbates these issues by intensifying flash floods in the region, which can accelerate erosion of the sandstone structures and disrupt the ecosystem, as seen in increased flood frequency across the Colorado Plateau.^[59]^[60] To mitigate these threats, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employs targeted protections, including a strict permit system that limits daily visitation to 64 people in Coyote Buttes North and 20 people in Coyote Buttes South, preserving the area's wilderness character. In 2021, daily permits for Coyote Buttes North were increased from 20 to 64 to balance access and protection, while South remains at 20.^[2]^[3]^[61] Geofencing technology integrated into the Recreation.gov mobile app enforces permit applications for the daily lottery, requiring users to be within a designated perimeter around Kanab, Utah, to participate and ensuring compliance with boundaries.^[39] Volunteer ranger programs supplement these efforts, with BLM recruiting patrols to monitor visitor safety, enforce regulations, and educate hikers on minimizing impacts in Coyote Buttes North.^[62] Restoration initiatives focus on invasive species removal, such as ongoing tamarisk eradication along the nearby Paria River, to rehabilitate riparian habitats and reduce competition with native vegetation.^[59] Paleontological resources, including dinosaur track sites within the Navajo Sandstone, receive specialized safeguards to prevent further degradation. The "Dinosaur Dance Floor" site, initially interpreted as a trampled surface with theropod tracks, has been off-limits to direct access since its documentation, with visitors required to view from a distance to avoid compaction and erosion of the fragile substrate. Interpretive signage at trailheads provides educational context while prohibiting closer approaches. A 2021 study reinterpreting the site as a series of weathering pits rather than biogenic tracks prompted updates to BLM educational materials, emphasizing natural erosional processes over paleontological claims to better align public understanding with scientific evidence.^[33]^[37] Long-term conservation goals outlined in BLM's 2020 Environmental Assessment for the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness include adaptive management to adjust visitation if monitoring detects excessive impacts, such as expanded trail delineation and potential fee increases to fund protections. The 2020 plan, based on 2018 data showing over 200,000 permit applications for roughly 7,300 slots (under the then-20 daily limit for North), prioritized maintaining or reducing access thresholds to below 24,000 annual visitors for North. Following the 2021 increase, annual slots for North are approximately 23,000—to prevent spillover degradation in adjacent areas like White Pocket, where visitation surged 1,687% from 2010 to 2018.^[59]

References

[1]
The Jurassic Navajo Sandstone at Coyote Buttes and The Wave
The Coyote Buttes' geologic history and corresponding research spans sand dune deposition, dinosaur trackways, burial, diagenetic coloration, and later ...Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
[2]
Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) - Bureau of Land Management
Coyote Buttes North (the Wave) permit areas are within a backcountry, undeveloped wilderness area and do not contain any developed trails or facilities.Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
[3]
Coyote Buttes South - Bureau of Land Management
Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) and Coyote Buttes South are a small part of the 112500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness and have some of the ...Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
[4]
Coyote Buttes North Advanced Lottery (The Wave), Paria Canyon ...
Rating 4.8 (1,542) Coyote Buttes North is just a small part of the 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but the permit area has some of the most visually ...Missing: sources | Show results with:sources
[5]
Coyote Buttes, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
The BLM divides the Coyote Buttes into two equally sized sections, North and South (see map). The northern region contains the Wave and most of the other famous ...
[6]
The WAVE in Paria Canyon: Coyote Buttes Wilderness
Trailhead: Wire Pass - Located 35 miles west of Page, Arizona and 40 miles east of Kanab, Utah. Melody Arch is located above the Wave area at Coyote Buttes ...Missing: size square
[7]
The Wave-Coyote Buttes | Utah.com
The Wave is in the north section of Coyote Buttes, between Paria Canyon and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. Turn off US-89 about halfway between Kanab, ...Missing: size distance
[8]
The Wave - Coyote Buttes North Permit and Hiking Information ...
It is located in the Coyote Buttes North area of the Utah-Arizona border. In addition to The Wave, Coyote Buttes North contains many other spectacular rock ...Coyote Buttes South · Coyote Buttes North · Coyote Buttes permits webpage · Maps
[9]
Kanab to The Wave - 2 ways to travel via car, and taxi - Rome2Rio
The distance between Kanab and The Wave is 44 miles. The road distance is ... It is divided into two areas: Coyote Buttes North and Coyote Buttes South.
[10]
Full article: Weatherscapes - Taylor & Francis Online
1 mar 2021 · ... Monument experiences a cold desert climate ... Vermilion Cliffs National Monument receives just 6.7 inches of precipitation annually on average.
[11]
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument - Bureau of Land Management
Nov 9, 2000 · Elevations range from 3,100 to 7,100 feet. The monument is also home to a growing number of endangered California condors. Each year, condors ...
[12]
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument Proclamation
Nov 9, 2000 · The monument's vegetation is a unique combination of cold desert flora and warm desert grassland, and includes one threatened species, Welsh's ...
[13]
Cryptobiotic Soil Crusts - Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ...
Oct 10, 2025 · Many cryptobiotic soil crusts are able to absorb water more quickly than regular soils and as a result reduce runoff and impede evaporation. In ...Missing: Buttes | Show results with:Buttes
[14]
Ages for the Navajo Sandstone - Geological Society of America
Sep 9, 2019 · The sands were deposited in dunes within the largest known sand sea (erg) in Earth's history during the Early Jurassic. These deposits show ...
[15]
The real Jurassic Park was a vast desert | NSF
Sep 30, 2019 · In the early Jurassic, the grains that formed these sandstones were deposited in the largest known sand sea in Earth's history. The deposits ...
[16]
Navajo sandstone | The Geological Society of London
This enormous sand sea was deposited in the Early Jurassic, approximately 190 million years ago, as a result of regional tectonics and mountain building in ...
[17]
Navajo Sandstone: Utahgeology.com
Summary: Approximately 190 to 136 million years ago in the Jurassic the Colorado Plateau area's climate increasingly became arid until 150,000 square miles ...Missing: origin environment
[18]
Page Sandstone & Templecap Fm (Geology of Utah's Grand ...
Apr 25, 2025 · Sedimentation was controlled by sea level, climate and tectonics. The Sundance sea entered the area from the north due to a global sea level ...
[19]
[PDF] Middle Jurassic Formations, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona
Thus, the Navajo is a predominantly crossbedded sandstone formation at the top of the Glen Canyon. Group that does not intertongue with the Carmel Formation.
[20]
[PDF] Jurassic Navajo sandstone of Coyote Buttes, Utah/Arizona
The range of red, orange, pink, and purple sandstone hues is largely due to iron oxide-hematite and lesser goethite grain-coatings and cement. Six diagenetic ...
[21]
coloration and diagenetic history of jurassic navajo sandstone at ...
Oct 31, 2007 · The wide range of red, orange, pink, and purple hues is largely due to iron oxide grain coatings and cement that is predominantly hematite.
[22]
Characteristics of Terrestrial Ferric Oxide Concretions and ...
Jan 1, 2012 · Here we focus on concretion occurrences from ancient terrestrial examples of the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone (Figs. 1, 2) (Chan et al. 2004, 2005) ...
[23]
[PDF] Rainbow of Rocks_Mysteries of Sandstone Colors and Concretions ...
Pink sandstone makes up much of the interior, and the outer dark rind is cemented by iron oxide (hematite). ... Rainbow of colors in the Navajo Sandstone, Coyote ...
[24]
The Wave: Arizona's Strange and Spectacular Rock Formation
The troughs were first formed by water erosion, as run-off carved deeper and deeper into stone from the Jurassic age. But as the drainage basin that fed water ...
[25]
Coyote Buttes North Advanced Lottery (The Wave)
Coyote Buttes North is just a small part of the 112,500-acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but has some of the most visually striking geologic ...
[26]
The Wave, Arizona - Geology Page
Nov 2, 2012 · The formation is primarily composed of Jurassic-age Navajo Sandstone, deposited over 190 million years ago. Erosion, primarily by wind and water ...
[27]
https://www.treehugger.com/the-wave-arizonas-strange-and-spectacular-rock-formation-4863713
[28]
'A Dinosaur Dance Floor' – UNews Archive - The University of Utah
Mar 25, 2011 · The site – a 6-mile roundtrip hike from the nearest road – is in Arizona in the Coyote Buttes North area of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs ...
[29]
A Wet Interdune Dinosaur Trampled Surface in the Jurassic Navajo ...
Mar 9, 2017 · A Wet Interdune Dinosaur Trampled Surface in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, Coyote Buttes, Arizona: Rare Preservation of Multiple Track Types ...
[30]
Coyote Buttes Dinosaur Tracks - The Wave
Dec 11, 2023 · There are several sets of tracks and two trackways in the area. One of the trackways is a 50-meter detour from the hike to The Wave and is a must-see.Missing: discovery | Show results with:discovery
[31]
1,000 dinosaur tracks found around desert oasis - SFGATE
Oct 22, 2008 · Geologists say they have discovered prehistoric animal tracks so densely packed on a 3/4-acre site that they're calling it a "dinosaur dance ...
[32]
Crouching Theropod and Navahopus Sauropodomorph Tracks from ...
Jun 1, 2008 · The vertebrate track assemblage at Coyote Buttes comprises predominantly tridactyl tracks of small theropod dinosaurs with foot-lengths from 5– ...
[33]
[PDF] Crouching theropod and Navahopus sauropodomorph tracks from ...
The vertebrate track assemblage at Coyote Buttes comprises predominantly tridactyl tracks of small theropod dinosaurs with foot−lengths from 5–15 cm.
[34]
Arizona Lotteries and Permit Systems - Bureau of Land Management
Coyote Buttes. You must have a permit to visit Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) and Coyote Buttes South. Permits are available for day use only. There is a ...Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) · Coyote Buttes South · Paria Canyon
[35]
Coyote Buttes North Daily Lottery (The Wave), Paria Canyon ...
Recreation Fee: If selected in the lottery, a recreation fee of $7.00 per person or dog is required. This fee is paid online when filling in additional ...
[36]
Coyote Buttes South Advanced Permit, Paria Canyon-Vermilion ...
Rating 4.6 (310) Coyote Buttes South is just a small part of the 112,500 acre Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, but it includes some of the most visually striking ...
[37]
Coyote Buttes South Daily Lottery, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs ...
Rating 4.2 (40) Explore Coyote Buttes South Daily Lottery in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, Utah with Recreation.gov ... A Special Recreation Permit is ...
[38]
Buckskin Gulch Day Use Pass - Recreation.gov
Rating 4.5 (270) These permits are only valid in Buckskin Gulch / Paria Canyon Day-Use Area for the group size and date specified. They are not valid for other permit areas ...Missing: issued | Show results with:issued
[39]
Buckskin Gulch - Bureau of Land Management
Permits are required for day-use and (Overnight-Use sold separately and in advance). The day-use fee is $6.00 per person and $6.00 per dog. For more information ...Missing: self- issued
[40]
The Wave Trail, Utah - 5,955 Reviews, Map - AllTrails
Rating 4.9 (5,955) The swirling sandstone formations are truly mesmerizing, and the views from the top of the Wave are breathtaking. The trail itself is also quite scenic, and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[41]
The Wave, Arizona - An Easy Guide - HikingGuy
Mar 4, 2024 · Hiking to The Wave in Arizona can be overwhelming. There are permits, a remote location, and off-trail hiking. I'll show you how to hike it safely and easily ...
[42]
Best hikes and trails in Coyote Buttes South | AllTrails
Rating 4.6 (577) Want to find the best trails in Coyote Buttes South for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 7 great trails for hiking and more.Top Trails · Settings · Frequently Asked Questions
[43]
Coyote Buttes South – Best Alternative to the Wave
While the drive from the highway to the trailhead is only about 20 miles, it is very rocky. There are multiple signs that say do not drive if the roads are ...Missing: spans square
[44]
Coyote Buttes South from Cottonwood Teepees Trailhead, Utah
Rating 4.8 (264) Access information: The BLM requires a permit to access Coyote Buttes South. For more information, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/4251911 ...
[45]
A Guide to Visiting The Wave the 'Right Way' - Visit Arizona
Generally, October through early November is the perfect time to visit since the weather is cooler with less of a chance of rain than in the spring. Snow is ...
[46]
Arizona Hikers' Guide to Rattlesnake Safety
Mar 20, 2018 · 1. Understand what “aggressive” means. · 2. Get to know the snakes in your area. · 3. Keep your hands and feet where you can see them. · 4. Stay on ...Missing: Coyote Buttes
[47]
Hiking The Wave: Full Guide for a Safe and Memorable Adventure
Be Respectful: Observe only—never feed or disturb animals or trample fragile cryptobiotic soil. ... Drones are strictly prohibited in the Coyote Buttes area, ...
[48]
[PDF] Vermilion Cliffs - Bureau of Land Management
Jun 10, 2024 · Many who seek to visit Vermilion Cliffs, strive to obtain permits to three of the special management areas (Coyote Buttes North, Coyote Buttes ...
[49]
The Wave Arizona: Everything you need to know
May 26, 2025 · Generally speaking, though, in the heat of the summer, and non-holiday weekends in December – February, odds are normally better. How do I get ...
[50]
[PDF] SCIENCE PLAN VERMILION CLIFFS NATIONAL MONUMENT
o Patterns of soft-sediment deformation in the Coyote Buttes area provide unique insights into environmental conditions in the region during the early Jurassic.
[51]
Twenty-Five Years of Paleontological Research in Grand Staircase ...
Sep 22, 2025 · Initial, coordinated, and collaborative fossil inventories started in 2000 by joint BLM, Utah Museum of Natural History, Museum of Northern ...
[52]
[PDF] Arizona Vermilion Cliffs National Monument Recreation Fee ...
maintenance of permit areas. Estimated cost: $150,000. Connecting with Communities. Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (VCNM) staff annually review Special ...Missing: trail | Show results with:trail
[53]
Permits and Fees are Coming to White Pocket in Arizona
The BLM published the draft proposal in May of 2024, on possible changes to the management of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, including White Pocket.
[54]
None
Below is a merged summary of the key sections from the Environmental Assessments (EAs) related to Coyote Buttes, consolidating all information from the provided segments into a comprehensive response. To maximize detail and clarity, I’ve organized the information into a dense, tabular format where appropriate, followed by narrative sections for areas that benefit from explanation. All unique details from each summary are retained.
[55]
Tourists outraged after making shocking discovery at natural landmark
Jul 15, 2025 · The photo shows that a visitor appeared to have carved the initials "S+A" onto the wall of The Wave, a massive rock formation in Coyote Buttes ...
[56]
'I Knew I Should Leave. I Couldn't Leave.' - The New York Times
Sep 25, 2024 · Flash floods plagued Utah and much of the Colorado Plateau this summer. Climate change has made them more frequent and more intense.
[57]
The Kanab Field Office is seeking volunteers for the Coyote Buttes ...
Jan 13, 2022 · The purpose of volunteer patrols is to have a daily presence in Coyote Buttes North to monitor visitor safety, prevent emergencies by contacting groups.Missing: ranger | Show results with:ranger
[58]
A REINTERPRETATION OF THE “DINOSAUR DANCE FLOOR”: A ...
Nov 24, 2021 · The resultant surface is covered with small, shallow potholes or weathering pits, with no direct evidence of dinosaur activity.