Fiery Furnace - Arches National Park

Fiery Furnace

Arches National Park
Canyoneering

The Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park is a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons and fins. The route requires minor scrambling and squeezing through tight spaces. This relatively small area is one of the most incredible and spectacular places in the park. The Fiery Furnace has restrictions on access and requires that you sign up for a ranger guided tour or obtain a special permit.

General Information:
The Fiery Furnace is a natural labyrinth of narrow passages between towering sandstone walls. To enter the Fiery Furnace, you must accompany a ranger-guided hike or obtain a hiking permit at the visitor center.

There are small markers for one counter-clockwise route in the Fiery Furnace, but there are many other possible paths, and getting lost is a real possibility. GPS units do not work well due to the towering sandstone walls. Navigating its complex passages requires physical agility and careful observation. To protect the wildlife and plants that inhabit sand dunes and drainages between the rock walls, you will need to choose your steps wisely. We recommend first-time visitors to the Fiery Furnace join a ranger-guided tour or go with someone who has been before.

The ranger guided hike is suitable for all healthy adults and older children. The loop hike is 2 miles around and will require 2 1/2 to 3 hours to complete. The hike winds through terrain that occasionally requires the use of hands and feet to scramble up and through narrows cracks and along narrow ledges above drop-offs.

Navigation for this route is easy with a ranger and extremely difficult without one. A GPS is useless in this deep canyon maze. The USGS 7.5' Maps titled "The Windows Section" and "Mollie Hogans" show the Fiery Furnace. All waypoints and maps for this route use the WGS84 datum. This route is rated 1A II using the Canyon Rating System.

Surprise Arch - Firey Furnace - Arches National Park

Ranger Guided Hike:
Every visitor entering the Fiery Furnace must obtain a ticket for the ranger-guided hike or a hiking permit at the visitor center. Guided hikes are offered daily. Additional information, pricing and on-line reservations are available through the Arches NP Ranger Led Programs. These popular hikes often fill weeks in advance, so it's a good idea to plan ahead.

Permit:
If you want to enter the Fiery Furnace without the ranger-guided hike, you must obtain a hiking permit at the Arches NP Visitor Center. Restrictions, pricing and additional information is available from Arches NP Permits.

Trailhead Information:
Follow the main road into Arches National Park and do not turn off until told to do so. From Arches National Park Visitor Center drive into the park for 14.0 miles to the signed "Fiery Furnace Viewpoint" turn-off. Turn south (right) into the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint and find a place to park (N38° 44' 34", W109° 33' 58"). The trailhead is identified by a large paved parking lot that will accommodate many vehicles. There is a pit toilet located at the trailhead. The trailhead is accessible to all vehicles in all conditions.

Skull Arch - Firey Furnace - Arches National Park

Technical Routes:
The Fiery Furnace is home to several technical canyoneering routes. Because of the sensitive nature of the area the technical routes are not betaed on this or any other website. Canyoneers have adopted a voluntary restriction on the area with the understanding that those new to the area must first do the routes with someone that has done them before. Please honor this voluntary restriction to keep the area open to future canyoneers. If technical canyoneering in the Fiery Furnace becomes an issue with the National Park Service the area will be closed to all but ranger guided tours.

Video:
Below is a short video documenting some of the fun to be had inside the Fiery Furnace. If this video fails to play on your mobile device or computer you can always watch the Original YouTube Version here.