The Bureau of Land Management issues permits for only 20 visitors per day to visit the iconic Wave red sandstone crossbeds in the Paria Canyon - Coyote Buttes Special Management Area. Only about 10% of the 73,000 annual applicants currently get permits. BLM is seeking public comments on its proposal to increase fees and restructure the permit system. [Right, photo credit Arizona Highways, Jeremy Jordan]The area has become world famous in the past 20 years, attracting large numbers of foreign visitors on top of the growing popularity of the site among US hikers.
The Arizona [Flagstaff] Daily Sun reports that
The changes suggested by BLM will transition all permitting in the area to an online system, including swapping a next-day walk-in lottery system for a 48-hour online one. Half of the 20 daily permits issued for Coyote Buttes South and North, where The Wave is located, are currently issued in the next-day lottery, which can attract more than 100 people per day... That same portion, 10 per day, will move to the 48-hour lottery, allowing people to better plan ahead for their trip.
The BLM’s draft plan also will raise fees, including an increase from $5 to $10 per person per night for overnight camping in Paria Canyon and an increase of the permit fee for Coyote Buttes North and South from $7 and $5 per person per day, respectively, to $12 per person per day. A $6 service fee would be charged by the online system for each permit issued.
The St. George [Utah] Spectrum says the public is invited to provide feedback on the permit process and proposed fee increases, both of which are addressed in the Paria Canyon-Canyon Buttes Special Management Area Draft Business Plan, by August 17.
Comments may be submitted to BLM at 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, 84790-6714 or via email to blm_az_vcnm@blm.gov
From personal experience it is very difficult to get a permit to see this area. I have tried repeatedly without any success. There is a real need to revise the current permit system and a fee based system that pays the cost for the on-line lottery seems the most fare.
ReplyDelete