A Fragile Wilderness Sculpted by Time

Deep within the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness on the Arizona-Utah border lies one of the Southwest’s most protected treasures: North Coyote Buttes. Accessible only by lottery permit and a 6-mile round-trip hike across deep sand and mostly unmarked terrain, this remote landscape rewards every step with beauty in all directions.

This gallery features images from my hike to the iconic Wave - a geologic masterpiece of undulating sandstone with its vibrant stripes and graceful curves. Along the way and near The Wave itself, the terrain reveals layered rock formations, alcoves, and swirling patterns sculpted by thousands of years of wind and water.

These photographs capture the quiet magic of this fragile wilderness: the play of light across the sandstone ribs, the sense of deep time, and the feeling of having the vast desert almost entirely to yourself. Just being here is a true highlight for any landscape photographer willing to earn the view. This experience serves as a capstone in my journey as a photographer in the Southwest.

I hope these images convey the wonder and remoteness of North Coyote Buttes and give you a feel for what it's like to stand in such a fragile and beautiful spot.