A Geological Masterpiece: The Wave in Arizona

The Wave is a sandstone rock formation located in the Coyote Buttes area of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness on the Utah-Arizona border. I was amazed by the geological masterpiece that the Wave is. The unique shapes, patterns, and colors embedded in the stone are created by sandstone deposits that have eroded over millions of years. The rock looks like an ocean of waves: a frozen moment in time. The pattern and color of the rocks change throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best lighting for photography. I learned that the area is a protected wilderness and only twenty hikers per day are permitted to visit. The Bureau of Land Management highly regulates access to Coyote Buttes and it requires a permit obtained in an online lottery system four months in advance. The hike to the Wave is only 3 miles round trip but it requires some hiking skills and good conditioning. This place is amazing and unique compared to everything I have seen. Visitors should be prepared to respect the fragile beauty of this area and practice Leave No Trace principles.