Flagstaff, Ariz. • A richly colored geological upheaval along the Arizona-Utah border is one of the most sought-after hikes in the West.
But The Wave isn't without dangers. Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management have implemented a series of safety measures following three deaths in 2013.
A new proposal to change the way permits are doled out and increase fees also could free up more people to focus on giving visitors safety advice.
Only 20 people are allowed to visit The Wave within the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument each day. The BLM wants to shift a walk-in lottery for 10 of the permits online and have visitors apply twice a year, instead of monthly, for the other 10.
The public comment period for the proposal ends Aug. 17.
FILE - In this May 28, 2013, file photo, a hiker takes a photo on a rock formation known as The Wave in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. The richly colored geological upheaval along the Arizona-Utah border is one of the most sought-after hikes in the West. But the Wave isnt without dangers that led officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to implement a series of safety measures following a trio of deaths in 2013. A new proposal to change the way permits are doled out and increase fees also could free up more people to do safety checks. (AP Photo/Brian Witte, File)
This May 28, 2013 photo shows hikers pausing to view a rock formation known as The Wave in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management limits the number of permits for hikers to 20 a day in order to preserve the backcountry wilderness experience and protect the sandstone formation. The permits are issued by lottery, half of them four months in advance through an online lottery and 10 by a live drawing of bingo balls the day before. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
This May 28, 2013 photo shows hikers walking on rocky terrain for a 3-mile trip to The Wave rock formation in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. People who make the hike are advised to bring at least a gallon of water for the desert backcountry journey that begins in southern Utah and crosses over the border into Arizona. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
This May 28, 2013 photo shows a section of a rock formation known as The Wave, part of the land that comprises the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. Access is limited to the site located in the Utah-Arizona desert backcountry, with just 20 hikers allowed in per day. Permits are given by lottery. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
This May 28, 2013 photo shows a hiker on a rock formation known as The Wave in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management limits the number of permits for hikers to 20 a day in order to preserve the backcountry wilderness experience and protect the sandstone formation. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
This May 28, 2013 photo shows a swirling colorful rock formation known as The Wave in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management limits the number of permits for hikers to 20 a day in order to preserve the backcountry wilderness experience and protect the sandstone formation. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
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