The Wave

The route begins and ends at Wire Pass, at 4,807' on the Utah side of the Utah–Arizona line, reaching The Wave, a sandstone formation at about 5,225', at its far point. There is no maintained trail; the route crosses open desert wash and slickrock using BLM-issued photo waypoints, a topographic map, and GPS. Pick up the orientation and route description covering the day's waypoints at permit pickup before starting — it's the only route-finding aid provided. From the trailhead, head northeast across the wash below Wire Pass and The Cockscomb, climbing gradually toward a break in the sandstone known as The Black Crack, reached at about 2 miles. Continue past The Black Crack; The Wave lies in a shallow bowl just below and south of it, roughly 3 miles from the trailhead, having gained about 400 vertical feet. Many permit holders continue past The Wave into the surrounding cove to see Second Wave immediately north, Top Rock Arch and Melody Arch on the ridge above, and the Boneyard to the south — all cross-country with no marked path between them. Retrace the same route back to the trailhead. Landmarks look markedly different heading south; recheck the waypoint photos rather than relying on memory of the outbound leg.