Missed out on Wave Permits yet again? Well, explore Coyote Buttes South in Utah and you definitely won’t feel like you’ve gotten a consolation prize. This area is full of wild rock formations, incredible colors, and dinosaur prints! 🦖🦕 It will feel as if you have landed on a different planet with crazy rock formations around every turn.
We recently visited this mesmerizing destination and we are still thinking about it! Honestly, I think it may be even cooler than the Wave. Because we don’t have 4WD we did a tour with Dreamland Safaris and it was a wonderful experience. I think that Coyote Buttes South is a can’t miss destination in the Southwest! ⭐️
Figuring out how to visit Coyote Buttes South can be very confusing. So, read below to plan your adventure to this incredible area. This guide includes where to stay, how to apply for permits, and tips on getting to this wild landscape!
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Guide to Visiting Coyote Buttes South
What is the Coyote Buttes South?
Coyote Buttes South is an area of the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness with insane sandstone rock formations that will blow you away! 🤯 This area is rarely explored by visitors, because it’s hard to get to, but that’s what makes it so special.
When we visited, we felt like we had the entire area to ourselves to roam! There are two different parts of Coyote Buttes South- Pawhole & Cottonwood Teepees. Although there is far more to explore at Cottonwood, it’s still worth it to go to Pawhole as well!
Things to See at Coyote Buttes South
Honestly, there are so many amazing things to see in Coyote Buttes South and half the fun is just walking around and exploring. I definitely recommend doing both Cottonwood and Pawhole. But, if you want to see the major rock formations I recommend downloading the Alltrails map for Cottonwood Teepees and looking for these things:
- The Hat
- Southern Wave
- Postman
- Dinosaur Tracks!
Winning a Coyote Buttes South Permit
Unlike the Wave, it is much easier to win a permit to South Coyote Buttes. In fact on some days, you may be the only person even applying for one! 😯 It’s much less well known, which makes it a fantastic place to visit if you have the ability.
In order to win a permit, you must go on recreation.gov and either apply for an advanced permit or the daily one. Advanced opens up 3 months in advance on the 1st of the month. So, if you want a date in June, then you can start applying on February 1st.
All deadlines on recreation.gov follow Utah time and Navajo time, not Arizona time!
If you are not planning that far in advance, you can apply in the Daily Lottery. It opens two days in advance from 6 am-6 pm Utah time. You must apply on a phone and be located in the geofence area. Then, you must pick up your permit the day before either in Page or Kanab and attend a safety briefing at 9 am Local time. ⛑
How to Get to Coyote Buttes South
In order to get to Coyote Buttes South, you NEED a 4WD vehicle with high clearance. Even then, it’s possible to get stuck! 🚙
Once you pick up your permit, they will give you an orientation on how to get to the Coyote Buttes South area. But, there are a couple of trails: Pawhole and Cottonwood Teepees. There is a one way drive from Cottonwood to Pawhole, so you need to do Cottonwood first if you plan on doing them both. That road is incredibly deep and sandy! ⛔️
It’s about 2 hours from either Page or Kanab, so prepare for a long drive!
If there is any rain and you feel your tires getting a little stuck or caked in mud, then you need to TURN AROUND. This road is impassable when it’s wet. Both For more detailed directions you can read this blog post here.
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 In order to explore Coyote Buttes South, you will need to win a permit. Permits are $5 per person and an extra $5 per dog as well.
🚗 You NEED 4WD and high clearance to access Coyote Buttes South. If you don’t have them consider booking a tour with Dreamland Safaris.
☀️ The sun in this area is very strong, so pack plenty of sunscreen and water for your time in the area.
⛺️There are a number of campgrounds in the area. But, the closest official one is the State Line Campgound, which is free and has tables as well as bathrooms.
🦮 Pets are allowed in South Coyote Buttes, but you need to apply for them on the permit as well.
🌧 Rain makes these roads impassable. If your tires are getting stuck or caked at all in the first part, then you need to turn around so you don’t get stranded out there!
🦅 If you’re lucky, you may get to see a Californian Condor as they fly around the sky, so keep your eyes peeled!
📲 There is not much cell service out there, so make sure you have both the maps and trail map downloaded! In case of emergency it’s best to bring a satellite phone.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Best Time to Visit Coyote Buttes South
Summer can be brutally hot in the desert 🥵 and is also monsoon season. But, I think that South Coyote Buttes is a fantastic place to visit outside of the summer! Spring and Falls are incredible seasons to visit with sunny skies and more mild temperatures.
The best time to visit South Coyote Buttes is during the cooler months from winter to spring!
Just make sure to check the weather, because if there is rain it may be hard to get to Coyote Buttes South in the sand. When it rains or snows the sand becomes thick and it’s much easier to get stuck! You do not want to get stranded out there all alone and tow trucks are very expensive. 💸
Packing Guide
You’re venturing out into deep sand in the desert. So, it’s important to bring things that you can use to get your tires out in case you get stuck. I suggest getting treads and a shovel! It’s also good to bring a satellite phone in case of emergencies. 🆘
Also, it gets very hot out there so make sure to pack plenty of water and sunscreen! The sun is incredibly strong ☀️ and you do not want to get dehydrated or come back with a major burn.
Packing List
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Water Reservoir
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Satellite phone
- Camera Clip
- MaxTrax or Treads
- Shovel
Where to Stay
South Coyote Buttes is in between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah. So either of these areas are great places to stay! There are tons of wonderful camping, glamping, and hotel options throughout the entire area. But, you can even camp out at Cottonwood Teeps for a night as long as you are outside the South Coyote Buttes boundary! ⛺️
If you are like me and would prefer to camp there are tons of options in the area if you don’t want to be isolated at South Coyote Buttes. The closest ones are the free stateline campground nearby or free camping throughout the canyon ⛺️. We stayed at a free spot just a bit further from the free stateline campground.
Best Lodging in Page & Kanab
Final Tips for Your Trip to the South Coyote Buttes
You need to add Coyote Buttes South to your bucket list, but please do your research before you go!
Make sure that you have a 4WD vehicle and that you have experience driving through deep sand before you get out there. Also, make sure to tell someone you’re going and have a way to contact emergency services if you need. If there is rain in the forecast, stay back. ⛈ If you do all that then you will be blown away!!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
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Am I allowed to ride an atv or dirtbike out there instead of my truck?
Yes I believe you can, I didn’t find anything prohibiting it