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KANAB — The walk-in lottery to obtain last-minute permits to the Wave could soon come to an end.
The Bureau of Land Management currently issues 20 permits per day for the world-famous Wave, with 10 permits distributed online in advance and 10 more distributed at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab each day.
A new proposal from the BLM would move all permits for Coyote Buttes North, which includes the Wave, to an all-online system at recreation.gov. Permits for Paria Canyon Overnight and Canyon Buttes South would be moved online as well.
"Since 2008, we've seen a significant rise in visitor interest in these areas, including a 400 percent increase in the number of people seeking permits to access the Wave," the BLM's Arizona Strip field manager, Lorraine Christian, in a statement. "Based on visitor feedback, we determined it was time to review our business plan in order to provide improved customer service while also ensuring the public continues to enjoy a safe and pristine experience in these areas."
Anywhere between 50 and 150 people will show up in person at the visitor center for a chance to win one of the 10 permits on a given day, according to the BLM. Under the new plan, the walk-in lottery would be replaced with a 48-hour online lottery. The number of permits distributed would remain the same.
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Visitor feedback has prompted the Bureau of Land Management to re-evaluate its permit application system for the Wave, and proposed changes could impact local communities.While an online system would likely make it easier for people to plan their trips, the change could also affect the economy of nearby communities. Both Kanab and Page, Arizona, benefit from people who come into the area for days at a time to try their luck at the lottery.
In addition to changing the permit system, the proposed Paria Canyon-Coyote Buttes Draft Business Plan includes the first fee changes since 1997, according to the BLM. Fees for Coyote Buttes North and South would increase to $12 per person per day. Currently, Coyote Buttes North costs $7 while Coyote Buttes South costs $5.
Photo credit: Dave Cawley/KSL
Fees for Paria Canyon Overnight would rise to $10 per person per day from $5, while the Wire Pass, Buckskin Gulch and Paria Canyon Day-Use permits would decrease to $5 per person per day from $6. The camping fee for White House Campground would increase from $5 per night per site to $10.
Since the permits would be distributed through recreation.gov, a $6 service fee would also apply, according to the BLM.
Officials are asking for the public to provide feedback on the proposed changes for permits and fees. Comments should be submitted by Aug. 17 and can be emailed to blm_az_vcnm@blm.gov. Feedback can also be mailed or given in person at 435 E. Riverside Dr. in St. George.
A copy of the business plan can be viewed in its entirety online.
