Lomatium & Krill Loop
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:5-6, max ↨120ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 8 Nov 2025
"Great trip through the Canyon. First time in the Furnace and it was amazing, longer adventure then Elephant Butte and more route finding but everythin |
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| Best season: | Mar-Nov
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38.7431, -109.5659
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WaterflowIntroduction[edit]
There are two well‑known canyoneering routes in the Fiery Furnace: Lomatium and Krill. Both can be done independently, and many groups choose to do one without the other; however, it is far more common to combine them into a single full‑day outing since the start of Krill lies only a short distance beyond the final drop in Lomatium. To keep each route clear and well‑organized, the beta has been separated into two dedicated pages, each containing all necessary details.
This page remains as a legacy reference from a time when the individual beta pages were less complete. Please see the dedicated pages for current route descriptions and GPX files. The GPX files are designed to work together for those completing both routes in a single outing.
Request: When posting trip or condition reports, please submit separate entries on each route’s dedicated page to keep information clear, accurate, and genuinely useful for the community.
Route[edit]
When combining Lomatium and Krill into a single loop, start with the standard Lomatium approach from the Fiery Furnace parking lot. Follow the ranger-led route north, then continue along the established Lomatium beta to reach the drop-in and run the canyon as usual.
After completing the final rappel, walk a short distance downcanyon toward Skull Arch. Before you reach the arch, you’ll pass a large rubble-filled side drainage on your right (north); this is the start of Krill. You can turn up this drainage immediately and begin Krill, or continue the extra few hundred feet to Skull Arch, take a break and enjoy the view, and then backtrack to the same drainage.
From there, follow the Krill beta to complete the route. After finishing Krill, use the main drainage along the ranger-led route at the south end of the Furnace to return to the parking lot, as described on both individual beta pages.
Highlighted POIs[edit]
Some of the not-to-be-missed highlights along the route are Abbey Arch, Skull Arch, Belly of the Whale, Kissing Turtle Arch, and Surprise Arch. Lomatium & Krill is one of the most interesting and scenic canyoneering routes anywhere. Both of the raps in Lomatium are bolted and the one in Krill is off 3 pitons that have been in place at least a dozen years as of 11/25. There is an exit option for Krill requires a retrievable anchor before Kissing Turtles Arch.
Red tape[edit]
Permits for Self-Guided access to the Fiery Furnace are required to enter the Fiery Furnace and a reservation for a permit must be obtained through Recreation.gov. A physical permit will need to be picked up from the visitor center and each person in your group must be present for an 8-minute orientation and safety video followed by a 5-minute ranger talk before you can receive the actual permit. Permits can be picked up either the day before or the day of your trip at the visitor center. The visitor center hours change seasonally so check with the park's website for current hours of operation. There are no special allotments for canyoneers but the park will want to know if you are using ropes or not. Permits are $10 per person with a group-size limit of 6 people. Permit reservations can be obtained through Recrecation.gov up to 7 days in advance and often sell out.
In addition to these "self-guided" access the Park offers Ranger-led tours through the Fiery Furnace at 9:00 and 1:30 daily. These Ranger-led tours are offered seasonally so you'll need to check with the park to see if they are currently being offered or not. Group size for the ranger-led hikes was 14. There are small, unobtrusive arrows marking the direction that the ranger-led route travels. Anyone can follow these arrows--assuming they can find them--but if you are on a self-guided permit and encounter a ranger-led tour you are not allowed to follow the tour but are required to give them distance and not bug the ranger with questions. Signs marked "dead-end" indicate a spur to a special geological feature is that way, such as Skull Arch. These are not to be missed and worth the short hikes required. You can then return the way you came on the spur and rejoin the main well-worn path.