“Can you hike The Wave without a permit?” That’s the first question people ask when they realize just how difficult getting an official permit for The Wave, one of the world’s most sought-after hikes, can be.

What’s the fine for hiking The Wave without a permit?

If you choose to hike The Wave without a permit, you risk a fine of up to $10,000 per person. (Minimum $1,000.) If the BLM chooses to prosecute, you could also face up to 1 full year in jail. You’ll also be permanently banned from applying for Wave permits in the future.

How likely are you to get caught hiking The Wave without a permit?

BLM backcountry rangers are assigned to randomly check Wave permits 365 days of the year. They typically check permits near the entry trailhead at Wire Pass, then assign a ranger to hike to The Wave and back several times a day asking for paper permits (and making sure no one gets injured or lost.) On my hike to The Wave in summer 2018, 3 separate rangers asked to see our permit, the first beginning shortly after sunrise.

Rangers also periodically check parking permits at the main trailheads against trailhead registries. (An official, Wave-specific parking permit is included with your hiking permit.) While this is mainly to make sure no one is unaccounted for and potentially endangered in the area, it also helps them pinpoint people who might be hiking somewhere they shouldn’t be.

Could you potentially sneak in to The Wave in the middle of the night, when there’s less likely to be a ranger? Possibly, though I’ve heard of rangers patrolling the area on nightshift. But if you arrive before sunset or stick around for sunrise —which you should, because you definitely want to see The Wave in the light!— there’s a very high chance a ranger would catch you.

Is hiking The Wave without a permit worth the risk?

You can decide that on your own, but take it from someone who’s hiked The Wave before: as amazing at The Wave is, no hike (or photograph) is worth $10,000 or 1 year of your life.

Plus, hiking without a permit when other people spend years legally applying for one just makes you a shitty person.

How to get a legal permit for The Wave

Convinced that hiking The Wave without a permit isn’t worth it? You can still snag a permit with enough patience (or a little luck.)

How to Get a Walk-Up Permit for The Wave (2021)
How to Get an Online Permit for The Wave (2021)

It took me 2 years of trying before I scored an online permit. It was 100% worth the wait.

Didn’t win a Wave permit? Check out these nearby adventures in Southern Utah

Even if you don’t win a permit for The Wave, a trip to Southern Utah means you’ve won the lottery in terms of landscapes. They call the Kanab, Utah area “the Greatest Earth on Show” for a reason!

Other spectacular areas include:

• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Zion National Park
• The Grand Canyon
• Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
• Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in nearby Page, AZ
• and more!

Questions about hiking The Wave, with or without a permit? Let me know below!