Hiking Utah’s Fiery Furnace
Table of Contents
Note: Though I completed this hike in the Summer, a friend who completed the Fiery Furnace in the Winter has graciously allowed me to use some of their photos. In this post, you will find photos of “The Furnace” in both Summer and Winter conditions.
Updated 8/30/2019
Fiery Furnace. That’s a good name to describe this hike. It is especially apt when you decide to tackle this hike in the middle of July. A hot July day in the middle of the Utah Desert. More specifically, a hot July day in Arches National Park , which is located in the middle of the Utah Desert.
The Fiery Furnace is a big maze, to put it simply. Giant slabs of sandstone have been uplifted, warped, and weathered. Carved out of the rock is a web of slot canyons beckoning the visiting hiker to sort them out.
In the loosest terms, there is a trail to follow through the Fiery Furnace. It is poorly marked, but there is one. Little white arrows mark the way, but they’re sparsely placed. Good luck spotting them. It’s like reading Where’s Waldo? As such, getting through this rocky labyrinth is largely up to you.
You ever notice how some hikes are treated as amusement park rides? Some dude in pair of Chacos will be like “Oh Bro! Did you hike Half Dome Bro?” or “Yo dude Angels Landing was totally sick. I totally thought I was going to die!”. Some of these hikes are infamous enough that novelty T-Shirts are sold in park gift shops. They are requisite rites of passage, separating the hiker from your Winnebago Warrior.
The Fiery Furnace is an example of one such hike. It is interesting enough that hiker’s are expected to attempt it. Though not quite as death defying as some other, more notorious trails, the Fiery Furnace presents an equally rewarding challenge. On this hike, you don’t risk death. The worst fate that may befall you is some minor frustration. Maybe a sprained ankle and a sunburn.
We stumbled across the Fiery Furnace during a rock climbing road trip. Arriving in Moab, we found that it was way too hot to climb anything. We should have known better. Fortunately, the Fiery Furnace turned out to be a worthy consolation prize, and made our stop over in the desert totally worth it.
Related: Check out our article on planning a Rock Climbing Road Trip. We’ll help you plan your rock climbing road trip, so that you don’t wind up in climbing destinations totally out of season.
Stats
Difficulty: A Moderate Jaunt
Distance: 2.5 Miles
Elevation Gain: Not a lot
Time to Hike?: 2-3 Hours. Count on taking time to take pictures, get lost, and wedge yourself between rocks.
Slot Canyons?: Plenty
Arches: Yeah, but you gotta keep an eye out.
How’s The Heat?: It Sucks
How’s the Water?: There is none. Make sure you bring enough.
The Fiery Furnace Permit System
In order to minimize human impact within the Fiery Furnace, Arches has instituted a permit system. Permits can be secured at the visitor center, located at the entrance to the park. Personally, I think the permit system is a good move. Though it adds an extra, probably unwanted bureaucratic hurdle, the permits help to preserve this awesomely unique hike.
Permits do cost money, but they’re pretty cheap.
During Arches’ busy season, the permits regularly sell out. To secure yours, consider tackling this hike early in the day. Permits can be reserved up to seven days in advance, and need to be reserved in person at the visitor’s center.
A fiery furnace permit comes with a free movie. Score! They make you watch a short video that will briefly explain some of the obstacles and hazards during this hike.
A ranger will lead your group into a small room, and they will start the movie. Some of the terrain within the furnace might catch a few hikers off guard. This video will help you to prepare yourself. To ensure that everyone in your party is prepared, all of the people on your permit must be present to watch the video.
After you the short talk and video, it is now up to you to get to the Trailhead. The Fiery Furnace Trailhead is starts at the Fiery Furnace Overlook. It’s not hard to find, and the drive takes about 15 minutes. Count on extra travel time during the peak visitation months.
Fiery Furnace Hiking Permit-Some Quick Tips:
- Cost: $6 for adults; $3 for children aged 5-13; $3 with Senior or Access Pass
- No Pets, or Children under 5 allowed
- Group sizes are restricted to a maximum of 10.
- No Overnight Hiking
The Hike, Self Guided
Hiking Arches’ Fiery Furnace is Canyoneering Lite. Diet Canyon Soda. Aspartame National Park. All the fun of Canyoneering, with none of the guilt. Cramped, narrow canyons throughout draw you in.
The Fiery Furnace is more of a playground than a calf burner. It is a tricky trek, though not too strenuous. There are little slot canyons, hoodoos, and arches, all seemingly placed just to distract you. Promising passages may lead to dead ends, and parts of the trail straddle harrowing drop offs. Getting lost in the Fiery Furnace is half the fun. Finding your way back is the other half.
Any hiker with a bit of experience shouldn’t have much trouble. In total, it took us about three hours to complete the loop. If we did not distract ourselves with the many passageways, arches, and photo opportunities, we probably could have made it back in an hour. Choosing the correct path through this maze isn’t obvious, but you’ll find your way out.
I highly recommend that you take your time in The Furnace. If there were literal roses, this is where you’d stop to smell ‘em. Enjoy the hike. Challenge yourself in the canyons, search out all the hidden arches, and pose for silly pictures. This is a very unique hike, and you’ll want to dedicate some time. Sometimes, the rock walls open up to reveal a stunning view of Moab, Arches, and the distant La Sal Mountains. There is no reason to make when the beauty is all around.
I’m not going to upload a GPX file of the hike. The truth is that I forgot to make one. More importantly, the best part of this hike is figuring it out all by yourself. If you’d prefer a map, I’m sure that they can be found elsewhere. Alternatively, you can piggyback onto one of the regularly scheduled ranger led tours of the Fiery Furnace.
Ranger Led Tours
Throughout the Summer, Arches National Park runs daily, Ranger Led hikes. Depending on your skill level, physical fitness, and your natural sense of direction, getting a park ranger to guide you may be your best option. Hiking with an NPS ranger can be a great experience. They can give you insights into the geology and ecology of the Fiery Furnace, and will be able to help you out of a bind. We opted for the self guided option, but I am sure that we would have enjoyed a Ranger tour just as much.
Quick Info-Ranger Hikes:
- Availability: May 1st-through September 28th (Subject to Change)
- Times: 9:00 am, 9:30 am
- Cost: Loop Hike-$16 adults, $8 Children ages 5-12 ; Out and Back-$10 Adults, $5 Children ages 5-12
- Where to Make Reservations: Online at Recreation.Gov or in person at the Visitors Center
Ranger Hikes of the Fiery Furnace are available from May 1st, to September 28th. Tickets must be reserved in at least 7 days in advance. Hikers have the option to choose either a loop hike, or an out and back. Don’t be late for your hike, because the NPS won’t give you a refund.
Also, be sure to wear sturdy, supportive footwear. Sandals and high heels are not allowed to be worn on this hike. Trust me when I say that a good pair of hiking shoes will help with the scrambling sections.
Regardless if you choose to hike with a ranger, or not, permits are still required. If it is not a busy day, then a permit is easy to secure.
Best Time to Hike
Not Summer. Definitely not Summer. Unless you’re taking a Ranger led tour, which are only available in the warmer months of the year.
Take it from me. Avoid the Fiery Furnace in the middle of Summer. Avoid any desert hike during that time of year. Better to enjoy these hike from an air conditioned living room, cold beverage in hand.
It was so hot, my camera could no longer bear to take pictures. My camera got heat stroke. They should call this hike the Cremation Furnace instead. We should have hiked it in April. In any other season, the conditions in the Fiery Furnace will be fairly pleasant. You may find it to be somewhat chilly in the shade, but it will still be better attempting this is in the heat.
Before you do decide to tackle any desert hike on a triple digit day, be sure to be well prepared. This means:
- Adequate Sun Protection: UV Resistant Layers are best. Sunscreen works, but is not always as effective.
- Wear Light Colored and Breathable Clothing
- Plenty of Water: Bring more water than you think you do, and then some.
- Light snacks, to help replace any electrolytes lost from sweating.
- Sunglasses
Please pardon my complaining. The Fiery Furnace is an awesome hike, and every visitor to Arches National Park should hike it.
Given that Arches National Park is situated in a high elevation desert, snow and winter conditions are common. In a blanket of snow, the Fiery Furnace takes on a whole new character. Ice may even persist late into the Spring. Take caution if you choose to hike in the cooler seasons. Bundle up, and consider using trail crampons. We recommend equipping the Yaktrax Pro. You can see our review of the Yaktrax Pro here.
Closing Thoughts-Why You Should Hike the Fiery Furnace
The Fiery Furnace hike is not one to be passed up. It will combine all the scrambling, canyoneering, and route finding of a backcountry Utah experience, with little of the commitment. Navigating the maze that is the Fiery Furnace is a fun, rewarding undertaking. It is suitable for people of many ages, with any experience levels.
Green hikers will find the Fiery Furnace to be a fun challenge. Experienced outdoors folk will enjoy the beautiful, cerebral trek. There is ample parking at the trailhead, and getting a hiking permit is both easy, and cheap. Guided ranger hikes will allow you to ask questions, and get valuable insight from a knowledgeable National Park Service ranger. Not to mention, it will take all the guesswork out of navigating the Fiery Furnace.
Though earlier I poked fun at some classic hikes, I still think that these hikes hold some merit. They are classic for a reason, whether it be for their beauty, their thrills, or the challenge. Something can be said for tourist traps, oddities, and National Parks.
Passing up the Fiery Furnace is like going to Zion and ignoring Angel’s Landing. Or going to Disneyland and deciding to not shell out $200 for a Park Hopper day pass. Or maybe it’s like going to the movies, and not buying a $15 bag of popcorn. It is a classic experience that will be memorable, rewarding, and very fun.
Need Hiking Gear?
Hiking in Arches National Park can sure be confusing. Some might ask “Wait a minute? Where’d all this lightning come from?” or “Where the heck are all the Arches anyways?” In the high desert, you’ve gotta be prepared for anything. To help you prepare for your next hike, we’ve put together the Essential Hiking Gear List.
Follow our advice, and get the best gear, and you’ll be ready to hike though anything, rain or snow, desert or mountains.
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