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- Peering down into The Wave from the back end. The Wave occurs where U-shaped troughs intersect. The area is small, when measured by slickrock standards. At its widest point, The Wave is about 120 feet across.
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- Early morning light illuminates The Dive, a set of cliffs that mark the edge of West Clark Bench. Although it’s invisible from this vantage point, Buckskin Gulch cuts through the valley floor below the foot of the cliffs.
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- This is a hiker’s view into The Wave’s main entrance. Undulating red Navajo Sandstone catches the early winter light and reflects it with a warm glow.
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- Sand Cove is a broad basin southeast of The Wave that feeds into a sandy wash. Most visitors to The Wave stop after they’ve visited that one iconic spot. But the area is chock full of other interesting formations; many can be found along the sides of Sand Cove.
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- This area is named after the photographer who first made it popular–Michael Fatali. The Boneyard isn’t far from The Wave, and many consider it a must-see part of “The Wave experience.”
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- Millions of years of erosion have revealed dramatic colors swirled into the sandstone of the Coyote Buttes. Although red and pink dominate the Navajo Sandstone formation, from which these buttes are carved, rich yellow strata occasionally surface. The colors are vivified by late evening light.
The Wave
The Wave consists of intersecting sandstone troughs that open into a small bowl, perched on the far north edge of Top Rock. Many have written about The Wave, and endless photos have been snapped, but in the end it’s a place that must be seen and experienced. The wave itself is small; it’s only about 120 feet across at the widest point. Enjoying it in isolation is like picking a single chocolate chip out of the cookie. The surrounding Coyote Buttes are a multicolored slickrock playground. If you’re lucky enough to visit, make sure to see some of the surrounding features, including the Second Wave, Top Rock, Sand Cove, Fatali’s Boneyard, and other unnamed goodies.