Coyote Buttes Road

Coyote Buttes Road leads deep into the Paria Plateau wilderness, providing the only vehicular access to Arizona’s world-renowned Wave formation and surrounding slot canyon country. The 20-mile route begins as maintained dirt but quickly deteriorates into deep sand washes and rocky two-track that can swallow unprepared vehicles whole. Navigation becomes critical as the main route splinters into dozens of social trails, many leading to dead ends in the vast sandstone maze. Wire Pass Trailhead marks the endpoint for most, though experienced drivers can continue deeper into the backcountry toward Buccaneer Trail and White Pocket.

This is a moderate to difficult route demanding high-clearance 4WD and sand driving experience — street tires will get you stuck fast in the deep washes. The real challenge isn’t technical difficulty but navigation and sand recovery skills. Spring and fall provide optimal conditions; summer heat is dangerous and winter can bring impassable snow. Wave permits are notoriously difficult to obtain through the lottery system and absolutely required. No services exist for 50+ miles — carry extra water, food, and recovery gear. Dispersed camping is prohibited in most areas, making this typically a long day trip from Kanab.