I stood in a trough between swells of solid rock. Pink, red and buff sandstone appeared to spill down the cliff on the left and wash under my feet. Flowing on, it crested high above me on the right.

The Wave, as it is aptly called, looked like a huge pastel-striped ocean wave plopped into the middle of the desert wilderness along the Arizona-Utah border.

The peaceful silence was broken now and then by a footstep or a respectful voice of one of the few people there. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which administers the area, allows only 20 people to visit each day.

The Wave is composed of pink, red and buff sandstone.

Ten of the visitors apply through the Internet and 10 are allowed entrance if they win a lottery that occurs the day before their visit. I had won the previous day.

A Japanese woman had shrieked when her name was announced as a winner. She was there with a companion.

The pleasant spring day had started out cool; they wore wide-brimmed hats and outfits with long sleeves and pants. As I heat up easily, I wore shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt with liberal amounts of sunscreen applied.

A young German in a red jacket, his tripod and camera set up, was taking pictures of the formation. Three or four others, Americans, like me, walked around exploring, getting different shots. Everyone took care to stay out of the others’ photographs in that special place.

To get to The Wave, a bit of luck and a long hike are required. Here’s how to do it.

The Wave is in Arizona, however, the trailhead is in Utah. Applications for day permits (no overnight camping is allowed) can be made up to three months in advance online, or at one of two BLM stations, depending on the time of year.

From November 15 through March 15 visitors must check in at the BLM Kanab Field Office in Kanab, Utah; from March 16 through November 14, they should visit the BLM Paria Contact Station on U.S. Highway 89 in Utah, 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Page, Arizona.

It is essential to apply before 9 a.m. If one is lucky, no more than 10 people are there, and the permit is issued. When more than 10 apply, which is often the case, names are put into a hat for a drawing held promptly at 9 a.m. Permits cost US$ 5 and are valid the following day to allow people to get an early start, if they wish.