Coyote Buttes South Advanced Permit
Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness
- Coyote Buttes South permits must now be downloaded and printed by visitors, not the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. They will not be mailed. Please see the ‘Fees & Cancellations’ tab for details.
This is Not The Wave
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 geologic sandstone formations in the world. This area requires hiking in deep sand. There are no designated hiking trails or specific destinations in Coyote Buttes South. Hikers enjoy exploring and discovering their own routes. This remote area offers opportunity for solitude where you will very likely see no one or have only occasional contact with other visitors. Permit holders should be in good physical condition and have good backcountry hiking and navigation skills.
To help protect yourself and the wilderness experience, please take the following precautions:
- Four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle is required for Cottonwood Cove & Paw Hole Trailheads. The roads accessing these trailheads are composed of deep sand with sections of rough rock.
- Lone Tree is the only trailhead that may be accessible with a two-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle when road conditions are good. However, accessing the permit area using this option adds an additional 5-mile round trip hike through deep sand.
- Check weather forecasts at the Paria Contact Station, the GSENM Kanab Visitor Center, or online before you go.
- Tell a responsible person your itinerary and whom to contact if you are overdue.
- If you carry an emergency beacon or SPOT, know how and when to use it. False alarms put rescuers at risk and can cause lasting damage to the canyons.
- Carry at least a gallon of water per person in hot weather.
Permit & Season Information
This permit is required to visit the Coyote Buttes South permit area. The area is designated day-use only (no overnight). Reservations are accepted at 12:00 noon (MT) on the 1st of each month for a permit during the third month ahead. Reservations are not accepted for trips beginning day-of or the next day.
For example, permits for the month of August would become available on May 1st at 12:00 noon MDT. Online reservations would not be accepted starting on August 14th for a trip on August 15th.
Reservation and permit fees for all applicants will be charged at time of reservation. You must bring a printed copy of your permit which can be accessed from the ‘My Reservation’ tab on your account profile at Recreation.gov. See Fee Policies for full details.
Coyote Buttes South permits may be reserved year-round. However, as the area experiences extreme weather and flooding, visiting the permit area is not always safe or possible.
Need to Know
Permit Information – Permit area does not include the Wave.
- Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. No Rainchecks.
- Permits are valid only in the Coyote Buttes South permit area for the group size and date specified. They are not valid for other permit areas such as Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) or Paria Canyon Overnight.
- Violators of group size may be cited if limit is exceeded. Joining with those on a separate permit to exceed 6 is prohibited.
- If non-commercial users obtain a permit and opt to retain an authorized outfitter and guide service, the guide will not count against the group size limit or the total visitor limit for the given day.
- Authorized commercial operators may also reserve permits for trips they lead. They compete equally with non-commercial users. If a guide service obtains a permit, the guide will count against the group size.
Safety is your responsibility!
- Before reserving a Coyote Buttes South permit, it is important to understand what to expect. This permit area does not contain any trails or facilities; a visit here entails exploring a remote, undeveloped area.
- Permits are issued for every day of the year, but changing conditions mean that access is not always safe or possible. Consider seasonal weather and road conditions before making a reservation. Permits cannot be rescheduled, even when conditions are poor. If you receive a permit for a day with unsafe conditions, you must choose whether or not to use the permit. Depending on the season, there is potential for extreme temperatures, flash flooding, and impassable roads. All fees are non-refundable and there are no rainchecks regardless of weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances.
- The roads that access the permit area consist of deep sand and sharp rocks. Because of the road conditions, two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles are not sufficient for reaching the access points; four-wheel-drive high-clearance vehicles are required. Experience driving in deep sand is also important. Every year, groups get stuck and stranded after attempting the drive without adequate experience or vehicles.
- If you lack an appropriate vehicle or an experienced driver, consider renting a four-wheel-drive high-clearance vehicle or hiring an authorized guide.
- You are responsible for your safety. If you get lost while hiking, experience a non-life-threatening emergency, or if your vehicle becomes stuck or breaks down, it is your responsibility, not that of emergency services or the Bureau of Land Management, to deal with the situation. Getting help can be challenging and expensive. Consider this before purchasing a permit. Visitors must be self-reliant and prepared for the challenges of visiting the area.
- Notify an emergency contact of your plans, including where you are going and when you plan to return. Stick to your plans.
- Call 911 in case of a life-threatening emergency. Cell phones are unreliable in this area, but may be able to reach 911 even when other numbers do not work.
Rules and Regulations
- Use of motorized and mechanized vehicles and equipment, and the launching and landing of drones, is prohibited in Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. (e.g. no bicycles, skateboards, strollers)
- All group members must stay together.
- Coyote Buttes South permit area is designated day use only. Overnight camping is prohibited.
- Dogs are allowed, but they must be included on the permit and kept under control at all times. Waste must be packed out.
- All natural and cultural objects are protected.
- Defacing surfaces and cutting or trampling vegetation is prohibited.
- Harassing or feeding wildlife is prohibited.
- Campfires and burning of trash are prohibited. All trash, including toilet paper, must be carried out.
- Recreational use of horses or pack stock is not permitted.
- A Special Recreation Permit is required in addition to the recreation permit, for all commercial uses such as outfitters or organized group guided trips.
Fee Policy
You must bring a printed copy of your permit, accessible from the ‘My Reservation’ tab on your account profile at Recreation.gov. You must print and bring your permit with you; digital copies on your cell phone will not be accepted. Failure to provide proof of permit may result in a citation. You may print your permit as early as 14 days before your reservation date. Once your permit has been printed, you cannot make changes to the permit.
The same maps included with your digital permit are also available at our three visitor centers. Please provide your printed permit to staff to obtain one. Maps are available in English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
Reservation Fee: A non-refundable $9.00 fee is required for each permit reservation.
Recreation Fee: A non-refundable recreation fee of $5.00 per person and per dog is required. Everyone, regardless of age, must be included in the permit. This includes infants that are not walking.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy: All fees are non-refundable regardless of weather conditions or any unforeseen circumstances. If unable to attend, permits can be cancelled and will be reallocated to the calendar. However, they are still non-refundable. Once printed, they cannot be cancelled.
Change Policy: There will be no change or modification allowed to permit dates, applicant name, and alternate permit holders. Modifications can be made to trailhead, license plate, and the addition of dogs at the ‘My Reservations’ page on Recreation.gov. These modifications are allowed until the permit is printed. No changes may be made after permits are printed. If the primary permit holder cannot make the trip on the permit date, the permit can only be used by the alternate permit holders listed on the application. If a primary or alternate permit holder is not present, the permit is invalid.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
345 East Riverside Drive St. George UT 84790
Phone Number
(435) 688-3399
