Fiery Furnace
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| | Difficulty:2A II (v1a1 II) Raps:0
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Any;HOT in Summer
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38.7432, -109.5658
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WaterflowIntroduction[edit]
This page is for the class 2, non-technical route through the Fiery Furnace. For either of the well-known technical canyoneering routes in the Fiery Furnace see any of the RopeWiki pages below.
When entering the Fiery Furnace make sure to carry plenty of water, it will be cooler in the maze-like furnace, but the approach albeit very short can be brutally hot.
This is one of the best semi-technical hikes one can do in the Arches National Park. Download the GPX format for map and waypoints for this routes, but be advised that GPS is limited in accuracy due to the many towering fins and walls. Your GPS may not accurately represent your location in the Fiery Furnace. This area is a maze connected by tight slot canyons, arches, and rock towers. You can book a ticket for the ranger guided tour (reservations needed well in advance) or you can also go on your own (hiking permit required from the Visitor Centre). To go in on your own you must be proficient at scrambling, route finding and tracking, as this is a REAL maze and it can be easy to get lost or trapped in some dead end passage, especially because many GPS receivers do not function nearly as well with interference from the tall walls. Take extra care to avoid become lost or otherwise needing a rescue; see Red Tape below for more information.
Notes On Using a GPS in the Furnace[edit]
Navigating the Furnace with a GPS is not impossible, but it is also not easy for everyone to do. If you have the necessary skills and preparation you may be able to us a GPS. Here are the key considerations:
Terrain Awareness: You must be proficient in visually interpreting the terrain and understanding your surroundings. This includes recognizing which areas are traversable and maintaining a clear sense of your position relative to the landscape.
Satellite-Image Base Map: A satellite-image base map is essential, as traditional topographic maps are ineffective in the Furnace's complex and dynamic environment. You'll need to compare visible features, such as canyon walls, to the map image to pinpoint your location.
Relative Positioning: GPS devices provide a general location but may not show your precise position. For instance, you could be on one side of a rock fin while the GPS indicates a different location. This is why a satellite-image base map is critical—it helps you visualize the terrain accurately to use as a check against what the GPS is indicating. Topographic lines alone are insufficient due to the Furnace’s dense and rapidly changing landscape.
Route[edit]
The ranger-led / self-guided route through the Fiery Furnace is marked by small directional arrows, but these markers can be subtle and easy to miss. They were added around 2017 after years of visitors getting “lost” in the Furnace, and they exist primarily to provide a gentle nudge in the right direction without spoiling the sense of exploration. Not every group notices all of them, and many hikers feel they are only marginally helpful. They should be treated as hints, not as a path to follow.
Part of the joy of traveling through the Fiery Furnace is wandering, discovering side passages, and occasionally backtracking. Although often described as maze-like, the Furnace is not as confusing as its reputation suggests: the fins mostly run north–south, which gives the entire area a natural structure. Following the arrows too closely can actually diminish the experience; the goal is not to hunt for the next marker, but to enjoy the countless geological features hidden between the fins.
You will also encounter several signs marked “Dead End.” These do mark true dead ends, but they also signal that something interesting lies beyond—often a distinctive geological feature such as Skull Arch. Look for subtle cues like footprints, darkened rock, or small disturbances in the sand to understand how rangers typically navigate between fins. If you find yourself cliffed out, pause and explore your surroundings. A bypass often exists and usually involves only minor exposure. Before attempting any significant traverses or downclimbs, make sure you can safely return the way you came.
The designated ranger route travels counter-clockwise through the Furnace, but you can follow it in either direction of not follow it at all. Google Earth provides an excellent overhead view of the terrain and can be helpful for planning your exploration.
Red tape[edit]
Permits are required to enter the Fiery Furnace. The park offers either a Ranger-led tour, or self-guided options. Either option does require an advanced reservation made through Recreation.gov (see details below). For both the ranger-led tours and the self-guided permits, each person in your group must go through an orientation at the visitors center (hours vary by season) in order to enter the Fiery Furnace. The orientation consists of an 8 minute orientation and safety video followed by a 5 minute ranger talk before you can pay for your self-guided permit or go on the tour. Reservations and permits are issued up to 7 days in advance and often sell out.
Ranger-led tours must be booked with an advanced reservation through Recreation.gov. Tours are $16 per person. Tours are offered seasonally so check the links below to see if they are being offered or not.
Self-guided tours also require a reservation made through Recreation.gov and cost $10 per person. They can be booked up to a week in advance and have a group-size limit of 6 people. Follow the link below for details and information about that process:
This area is particularly sensitive to rescues. It is extra easy to become lost or trapped, especially when using ropes to descend parts of the Furnace. And, increasing numbers of rescues may cause park rangers to close access to canyoneers or others. Be sure to put extra preparation and care into route planning and route finding, and have a backup plan in the fairly likely event that your GPS loses reception. If you use rope to descend at any point, make absolutely sure you are confident in your location before pulling the rope as failing to do so is likely to lead to a rescue. This is bad for the canyoneering community and is difficult for SAR teams, and the rescue is unlikely to be prompt.
Beta sites[edit]
- http://www.gjhikes.com/2011/06/arches-np-fiery-furnace.html
RoadTripRyan.com : Fiery Furnace- Climb-Utah.com : Fiery Furnace - Arches National Park
- Super Amazing Map : Fiery Furnace