BLM to restore in-person day hiking permits for Coyote Buttes North on June 15
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KANAB, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that the in-person lottery for day-use hiking permits at Coyote Buttes North, commonly known as The Wave, will resume on Monday, June 15. The BLM temporarily suspended the in-person lottery in March due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, but continued to provide three-month advance permits through Recreation.gov. The BLM worked closely with Kane County to develop an approach for restoring the in-person lottery in Kanab, while helping to protect public health and safety.
“So many rural communities in the West rely upon BLM’s working lands for economic strength. This includes the outdoor recreation economy,” said Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor. “While most BLM-managed lands have remained open to the American people throughout this pandemic, including special places like The Wave, I am proud that we can announce the return of the in-person lottery so more visitors can experience this extraordinary landscape.”
“The Wave is an iconic landscape that provides world-class opportunities for Americans to connect with the outdoors,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Casey Hammond. “Resuming the in-person lottery demonstrates our ongoing commitment to be a better neighbor and enhancing recreation access.”
The BLM strives to work collaboratively with local communities. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the BLM worked hard to find solutions to provide services to the American people and the public in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local guidelines.
“We appreciate Kane County’s partnership with us to find a safe way to restore the in-person lottery for The Wave, which we hosted at the Kanab Visitor Center before COVID-19,” said Paria River District Manager Harry Barber, BLM Utah. “The BLM is committed to providing the public with outstanding opportunities to recreate safely throughout the pandemic.”
“The BLM’s Arizona Strip and Paria River districts are excited that BLM is able to bring back the next day, walk-in lottery for Coyote Buttes North and The Wave,” said Brian Tritle, Acting BLM Arizona Strip District Manager. “I want to thank the recreating public for their patience and understanding as we suspended the in-person lottery to prevent the spread of Covid-19. We expect enhanced online permitting tools will be a valuable option to handle similar situations in the future, including the ever-increasing demand for access to Coyote Buttes North.”
In 1984, Congress created the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, which is managed by the BLM Arizona Strip Field Office, and includes the Coyote Buttes North. The BLM requires an advance permit for day use. There is no overnight camping allowed in the Coyote Buttes permit area.
For more information on day-use hiking permits at The Wave please visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/arizona/coyote-buttes. You may also contact the Kanab Visitor Center for information about the in-person lottery via email: utknmail@blm.gov, or by phone: 435-644-1200, or for more information about hiking The Wave please contact the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument by email: blm_az_asdoweb@blm.gov, or by phone: 435-688-3200.
Public domain photographs can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/blmutah/9Jd9Cs.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.