A couple of things you could try. You could head to Kanab one morning to try and get a walk in permit for Coyote Buttes North (the wave) or Coyote Buttes South, below is information. Then with or without a permit for the following day you could head to wire pass for some slot canyon photo's, there is a day fee charge. Also, there is close to a mile hike from the parking lot to the slot (you pass the trailhead to Coyote buttes North on the way to wire pass), wire pass is only about 1/4 mile long. Last time I was there it had two downclimbs of around 6-8 feet. You could hike to the confluence of Buckskin Gulch then head downstream as much as you would want to hike and return to vehicle. There have been some big floods in the last couple of years so the difficulty of wire pass is unknown to me at this time. Also, there is always the possiblilty of water/mud in the canyons.
It also could be cold in the canyons as you will not get much, if any, sun.
Just giving you another option of something to do around Page.
I tried for a walk in permit once a few years ago in October. I was running late and did not get one but they said 40 people showed up for the 20 available permits.
Enjoy, Tony
How do I obtain a walk-in permit?
If you missed the lottery or are just in the Southern Utah/Northern Arizona area, you can obtain a walk-in permit at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah.
Walk-in permit procedures:
For Coyote Buttes North (The Wave), be at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab, Utah (745 E. Highway 89 in Kanab Utah across from Walkers gas station and Wendy’s restaurant) from 8:30-9 a.m. Mountain Standard Time -Utah- (9am Daylight Savings Time in summer) to submit your application. For permits to Coyote Buttes South, be at the same location and submit your application between 9:30-10:00 a.m. The lotteries for Coyote Buttes North and Coyote Buttes South will run at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively.
Walk-in permits must be paid with either cash or by checks. No credit cards can be accepted.
If there are 10 persons or less seeking permits, you will be issued one on the spot for the next day.
If all ten permits were not issued the previous day, a same day permit may be available.
If there are more than 10 persons seeking a permit, there will be a drawing for the next day's 10 open slots.
Only one person per group may enter the drawing. If more than one member from your group submits an application, your group will be disqualified from the lottery.
If you receive a walk-in permit, you must wait two weeks before you can re-enter the drawing.
Permit holders may be required to show their government issued I.D.
Walk-in Permit Example
Three groups show up on a Tuesday. One group of six and two groups of four
A drawing is held with one potential permit being available for each group
If the group of six and the group of four are successful, all ten slots are filled
If the two groups of four are successful, there are still two slots remaining, and the group of six is then faced with a difficult decision, because only two of their party can receive a permit.
Some people have tried to circumvent the process by having more than one person in their group enter the drawing. This is dishonest and unfair to those who follow the rules. Please respect your fellow hikers and the BLM staff. If more than one member from your group submits an application, your group will be disqualified from the lottery.