The world-famous ribbon of undulating, candy-striped sandstone on the Utah-Arizona border in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. Access is limited to 64 people per day by lottery, and the 6.4-mile round-trip route is unmarked across open slickrock — which is exactly what keeps it pristine.
| Category | Point of Interest |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | Kanab, UT / Page, AZ |
| Top activities | Hiking to and photographing The Wave, Exploring bonus formations (Second Wave, Top Rock Arch, Melody Arch), Dinosaur track spotting near the trailhead route |
| Best time to visit | Spring and fall for hiking temperatures; midday light best illuminates the striations in the main formation. Summer heat is dangerous; winter can bring snow and icy slickrock. |
| Entrance fee | $9 per person permit fee (plus $9 non-refundable lottery application fee per try) |
| Permits | Permit required — 64 people/day total: advance online lottery (48 people, ~4 months ahead) and daily mobile geofence lottery (16 people, 2 days ahead) on recreation.gov. House Rock Valley Road is graded dirt, usually passable to careful passenger cars when dry. |
Visitor tip: Apply months ahead in the advance lottery (4 months out on recreation.gov) or try the daily geofence lottery from within the local area two days before — odds are long either way, so have a backup plan like White Pocket or Buckskin Gulch.
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