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 mazelike labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons. Unless you have been in before or are going with someone who knows their way around you will be wasting your time. If you are new to the Fiery Furnace it is best to sign up for the ranger guided hike until you learn your way around. There is no trail and you are encouraged to accompany a ranger both for your safety and to diminish impacts on the natural system.

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

Permit:
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 (spring through fall) through this trail-less area. Reservations are required and must be made online at www.recreation.gov at least four days in advance. These popular hikes often fill weeks in advance, so it's a good idea to plan ahead. Tours are limited to 25 people. Due to the strenuous nature of the hike, children under five are not permitted.

Fees charged for the ranger-guided Fiery Furnace walk go directly to supporting the program. The price as of 2012 is $10 for adults and $5 for children five through twelve or holders of the Interagency Senior or Access passes.

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. The best place to find a partner to show you the routes is in the canyoneering section of Bogley Outdoor Forum.

Video:
Below is a short video documenting some of the fun to be had inside the Fiery Furnace.