The Wave Lottery Cheat Codes

The Wave Lottery Cheat Codes

Made popular by social media, The Wave is now one of the most competitive places to visit. In 2022, only 3% of applicants were successful in getting a permit. Here is how you can maximize the odds of getting one.

Which lottery to enter?

To visit Coyote Buttes North and see The Wave, you must get a permit through one of the 2 lotteries. Either the monthly lottery or the daily lottery.

Monthly Lottery
Daily Lottery
Application period
4 months ahead
Example: to visit in May, apply during the month of January
2 days ahead, 6 AM – 6 PM MT
Example: to visit on Saturday, apply by Thursday 6 PM
Requirements
None
Must be located within ~40 miles of Coyote Buttes. See map
Daily quota
12 groups or 48 people
4 groups or 12 people
Cost
$9 to enter + $7/pers.
$9 to enter + $7/pers.
Monthly Lottery
Application period
4 months ahead
Example: to visit in May, apply during the month of January
Requirements
None
Daily quota
12 groups or 48 people
Cost
$9 to enter + $7/pers.
Daily Lottery
Application period
2 days ahead, 6 AM – 6 PM MT
Example: to visit on Saturday, apply by Thursday 6 PM
Requirements
Must be located within ~40 miles of Coyote Buttes. See map
Daily quota
4 groups or 12 people
Cost
$9 to enter + $7/pers.

Select a hiking period below to know when to apply to the lottery:

No information. Check park website.

Hack To enter the daily lottery, Recreation.gov checks that your device’s GPS is within 40 miles of Coyote Buttes (lat: 37.019, long: -112.037). See map. But you can use a GPS faking app to get around this restriction ;)

Does the size of my group matter?

We don’t have data on that, but it looks like larger groups have just as good of a chance as small groups. Applications are drawn at random, one at a time, with no preference for smaller groups.

When to go?

Best month

If you enter the monthly lottery, you have the best chances of getting a permit in winter (apply in the fall). For the daily lottery, summer has the best odds of success.

Monthly lottery success rate per month: 8% in January, 5% in February, 4% in March, 3% in April, 2% in May, 3% in June, 4% in July, 5% in August, 3% in September, 3% in October, 4% in November, 5% in December
Daily lottery success rate per month: no data in January—February, 3% in March, 3% in April, 3% in May, 6% in June, 8% in July, 9% in August, 5% in September, no data in October—December

Best day

When entering the monthly lottery, Wednesdays and Saturdays are best. However, the odds of getting a permit in the daily lottery don’t change that much.

Monthly lottery success rate per day: 3% on Sundays, 4% on Mondays, 4% on Tuesdays, 5% on Wednesdays, 3% on Thursdays, 2% on Fridays, 5% on Saturdays
Daily lottery success rate per day: 4% on Sundays, 5% on Mondays, 4% on Tuesdays, 4% on Wednesdays, 4% on Thursdays, 4% on Fridays, 4% on Saturdays

How to apply?

Enter the monthly lottery or the daily lottery at the appropriate time. Find the correct application date on our guide to The Wave.

What if I don’t win the lottery?

Entering the lottery is the only way to get a permit to visit The Wave. However, you can visit Coyote Buttes South which is just as beautiful and easier to get permits for!

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The success rate charts were created using historical reservation data provided by Recreation.gov. Reservation data past September 2022 isn’t yet available, therefore, lottery success rates for September—December use 2021 reservation data.