Difficulty Note: The hike is about 6-8 miles, depending on how much exploring you do. It is a mix of sand and slickrock hiking. There are a few signs along the way, but expect long sections without a discernible trail. GPS is strongly recommended for efficient route finding. The trail has little shade; be cautious in hot times of the year, as people have died due to heat exposure out here. My device showed about 1,500' of elevation gain as well with the addition of Top Rock, so a fairly strenuous hike for many. We took our 8-year-old, and she had a great day, but know your groups hiking ability.

Trailhead Notes: It is about 8 miles of dirt road to reach the trailhead. We saw a couple of low-clearance vehicles on our visit, but I would recommend at least medium clearance. The road is generally good but can be difficult and slippery after recent heavy rains. There are quite a few small primitive campsites along the way.

Permit Notes (from 2026)

There are two separate lottery systems you can use to get a permit. Here is the breakdown of the rules.

1. Advanced Lottery (Online)

This is for planners who want to secure a permit months before their trip.

When to Apply: Four months in advance. You apply during an entire calendar month for a date four months out (e.g., apply in January for any date in May).

Permits Available: 48 people (or 12 groups, whichever comes first) per day.

Rules:

Apply via Recreation.gov. ( https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/lotteries-and-permit-systems/arizona/coyote-buttes-north )

You can select up to 3 dates per application.

Fee: $9 non-refundable application fee.

Odds of Winning: Rummored to be 1% to 3%. During peak months (Spring/Fall), your chances are likely less than 1%. In deep winter (January/February), they may rise to possibly 5%. I tried this about 35-40 times before being successful, mostly trying in Fall, Winter and Spring. I've heard of many groups that were in about the same range as myself or slightly worse for a success rate.

2. Daily Lottery (Mobile/Geofence)

This replaced the old "walk-in" lottery. It is designed for people already in the area.

When to Apply: Two days before your intended hike date.

Permits Available: 16 people (or 4 groups, whichever comes first) per day.

Rules:

Geofence: You must be physically located within a specific geographic area (roughly covering Kanab, UT, and Page, AZ) to apply via the Recreation.gov mobile app.

Timeline:

Day 1: Apply on your phone between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Results are sent at 7:15 PM.

Day 2: If you win, you must accept and pay by 8:00 AM and attend a mandatory safety briefing at 8:30 AM (in Kanab or Page) to pick up the physical permit.

Day 3: Hike.

Odds of Winning: Rummored to be as high as 15% to 30%. Because you have to be physically present to apply, the pool of applicants is much smaller than the worldwide advanced lottery. I tried this at least 10 times without success, but am perhaps just unlucky.

Pro-Tips for Better Odds

The Winter Window: Applications for December, January, and February have significantly higher success rates due to the cold.

The "Group" Math: The lottery stops when it hits either the person limit (64) or the group limit (16 total groups). Applying as a group of 1 or 2 doesn't technically increase your odds, but it prevents you from being "skipped" if there are only 2 spots left and your group is 4 people. We were a group of 3 when I was successful.

Multiple Entries: Everyone in your group over 18 can apply individually to increase your collective chances, but if you win multiple times, you cannot "gift" or sell the extra permits.