See the “New Wave” on the Beehive Trail

Clouds hang low over a trail across red rocks with views to distant mountains — The Beehive Trail beyond the New Wave with views to the south

I went to the Beehive Trail outside of Page, Arizona, because someone online called it the “New Wave.” It was billed as a place where you can see formations like the famous Wave, only you don’t need a permit. Well, I’ve never been to the real Wave, but I’ll have to assume it’s more exciting than the Beehive Trail. The latter is very nice, even worth seeing, and I really enjoyed visiting early on a moody morning in November, but I can’t imagine anyone getting a permit to see it. There is one area with “wave”-like lines in the rocks, but the real draw is the surrounding scenery and rock formations. If you happen to have a half hour just north of the Lake Powell dam, strap on your camera and set off to have fun with the rock formations, leading lines, and views – you’ll be glad you did!

Quick Stats

Round Trip Length: 2.0 miles Trail Type: Lollipop loop Elevation Gain: 331ft. Pets: Leashed Fees: $30/vehicle

Two red buttes rise below threatening skies — The back of the New Wave

I highly recommend visiting either in the early morning or late afternoon/evening. By 10am, the lighting is such that the rocks begin to wash out and look a lot less pretty. You’ll still get some good views, it just won’t be as good for photography.

A trail splits in two below a red rock dome and threatening clouds — The first trail split

Follow the path from the trailhead, staying between the lines of rocks and following the cairns. At the split of the loop, I went left. This is the side of the loop with the New Wave, the best viewpoint, and more developed trail. The other side of the loop is more rugged and often quieter, but it also has some nice rock formations.

A trail in shadow travels across red rocks while two rock formations and clouds are in the distance — Following the Beehive Trail

From here, the route goes across slickrock to another junction. Turning left here will take you up to a viewpoint, while the right fork is the loop and will take you to the New Wave.

Dark skies hang over a rock formation and red-rock views — Views back toward Lake Powell

I turned left to the viewpoint, though to be honest, I got confused with the trail. The route descends into a valley then ascends a slickrock dome on the other side. Where exactly the viewpoint is located is hard to say. I walked right up and between two formations. On the other side of the formations was some very nice views to the south. Then I came back and walked to what would have been the left for a short distance.

Puffy white clouds hang over the desert while near the photographer are rock formations — Viewpoint views

While I was up at the viewpoint, I saw the rest of my group walk right by the junction and continue around the regular loop (I had run ahead to catch the morning light while they finished up at the van). I was pretty sure they had no clue where I was, and that they’d start to worry as soon as they got around the loop and didn’t find me. So I high-tailed it back to the main loop.

Rock towers rise over a small gap with puffy white clouds in the sky beyond the gap — Approaching the New Wave!

Only 300ft. beyond the turnoff for the viewpoint, the path rises to pass between two rock towers. This is the New Wave. At first, it doesn’t look very impressive, but if you wander around and get at the right angle, the lines become clearer, and it’s actually pretty neat!

Red rocks with a filtered-light glow under white cloudy skies — Climbing over the New Wave

Red and yellow striped rock with blue sky and a few white clouds beyond — Stripes in the rock of the New Wave

The cairns continue along the slickrock beyond the New Wave with great views to the rock formations across the next valley. The path finally turns right to go around the end of the butte you’re circling. At the far end is a pretty bowl in the slickrock.

Clouds hang over the desert of red rocks and wave-like layered slickrock — Views to the south

A red rock formation dips into a bowl; clouds sail behind the rock — The bowl at the far end of the Beehive Trail

From here, the route gets a bit more rugged. Follow the cairns closely; you’ll be scrambling (Class 2) over and around the slickrock. The views are still good, just not quite as exciting as the eastern side of the loop, as much as there are rock formations overhead on the right. I returned to the loop junction about mile 1.8 (it would be about 1.3 miles without going to the viewpoint); from there, it’s a quick 500ft. back to the parking area!

Red rock formations below cloudy skies — A few rock formations – it was hard to photograph the rocks on this side because of the angle of the sun

Striped reddish rock dips to a green valley, then rises to another red rock and low-hanging gray-white clouds — Quieter views into the next valley

Only by then I’d finally caught up with my group (sort of) and they’d missed where the New Wave was at, so we hiked back up to the New Wave for a few more pictures before returning to the van.

Clouds sail over the desert while a trail travels across slickrock toward some rock formations — Walking back to the van

Round Trip Trail Length: I went 2.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 331ft. (3,902ft. to 4,025ft.)

A single rock formation outlined on one side by the sun with clouds above and a silhouette of a mountain and a rock formation in the distance — A lone rock formation

Facilities: Campground at the trailhead

Fees: $30/vehicle to enter Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; America the Beautiful National Parks & Federal Lands passes and Glen Canyon Annual Passes are accepted.

Darker and lighter red rock stripes in a rock — Strips at the New Wave

Trail Notes: Wear good, grippy shoes and be ready to scramble. While none of the scrambling is hard (it’s only Class 2), there are some steep inclines, mostly so you’re walking on an uneven surface. Also be ready to wayfind as the trail isn’t always obvious (but it’s also pretty hard to get lost in most places thanks to the park people placing rocks to mark the trail – don’t mess with these). I was blessed with incredible lighting for this trail as the morning stormclouds broke up and shone golden-hour light on the formations. We were the only people on the trail for the first 30-60 minutes, then it quickly became popular with families, couples, and people holding big cameras.

A slickrock path travels toward rock formations while the sun rises on clouds in the sky — Hiking along an early part of the Beehive Trail

Trail

Road

Signs

Scenery

Would I go 100 miles out of my way for this?

Overall Rating:

The sun shines on rock formations below white puffy clouds — Clouds and rock formations near the viewpoint

GPS Coordinates for the Beehive Trail and the New Wave

TH: 36.9378110°, -111.4971520° (36°56.26866′, -111°29.82912′ / 36°56’16.1196″, -111°29’49.7472″) (3,902ft.) (0.0)

Loop junction: 36.9375290°, -111.4985970° (36°56.25174′, -111°29.91582′ / 36°56’15.1044″, -111°29’54.9492″) (3,945ft.) (475ft.)

Clouds gather over the red desert and blue of Lake Powell — Looking back toward Lake Powell

Viewpoint junction: 36.9362050°, -111.5006400° (36°56.17230′, -111°30.03840′ / 36°56’10.3380″, -111°30’02.3040″) (3,975ft.) (0.27)

Viewpoint: 36.9334950°, -111.5007510° (36°56.00970′, -111°30.04506′ / 36°56’00.5820″, -111°30’02.7036″) (4,024ft.) (0.54)

Layers of rock create stripes below white clouds — Stripes in the rock of the New Wave

New Wave: 36.9357530°, -111.5012200° (36°56.14518′, -111°30.07320′ / 36°56’08.7108″, -111°30’04.3920″) (4,001ft.) (0.97)

Bowl: 36.9330460°, -111.5041870° (36°55.98276′, -111°30.25122′ / 36°55’58.9656″, -111°30’15.0732″) (4,023ft.) (1.30)

End: 36.9378080°, -111.4971390° (36°56.26848′, -111°29.82834′ / 36°56’16.1088″, -111°29’49.7004″) (3,902ft.) (2.05)

Yellow and red rock formations beneath threatening skies — Looking back at the New Wave

The gpx file for the Beehive Trail can be downloaded – please note that this and the GPS Coordinates are for reference only and should not be used as a sole resource when hiking this trail.

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(Note: I do my best to ensure that all downloads, the webpage, etc. are virus-free and accurate; however, I cannot be held responsible for any damage that might result, including but not limited to loss of data, damages to hardware, harm to users, from use of files, information, etc. from this website. Thanks!)

Looking across a redish yellow rock to distant red cliffs under dark clouds — Views to the south

Clouds sail over and around a rock formation in the desert — Rounding the far end of the Beehive Trail

Getting to the Beehive Trailhead

From Page, AZ, head north on S Lake Powell Blvd to merge onto US-89N toward the Glen Canyon Dam. Drive for 1.7 miles, then turn left onto an unmarked road that ends at the Beehive Campground. Park before the campground – a sign for the Beehive Trail is nearby.

A yellow-leafed plant resides in a crack in a red rock — A small plant along the non-Wave side of the loop

From Kanab, UT, head east on US-89 for 70.6 miles. Just beyond the sign that says, “Glen Canyon Dam Carl Hayden Welcome Center ½ mile,” turn right onto an unmarked road that ends at the Beehive Campground. Park before the campground – a sign for the Beehive Trail is nearby.

Visual trail map and elevation profile of my hike on the Beehive Trail

More Hikes in the Area

This guide covers hiking in much of the area surrounding Page, AZ, including national parks, off-the-beaten-path treks, hidden gems, famous scenery, and much more. Buy your copy here.