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Fiery Furnace Loop

Grand County, Utah

4.5/5
based on 6 reviews

Details

Distance

1.53 miles

Elevation Gain

328 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Devin K

Fiery Furnace is one of Arches National Park's unique adventures with plenty to take in.

Arches National Park is an incredible place with a variety of places to explore. One of the great places to explore is the Fiery Furnace. The Fiery Furnace requires a permit, which can be obtained at the Visitor Center after watching a short video. For the most part, they are making sure you are capable of simple navigation and inform you to avoid the microbial crust. Once you have obtained the permit you can drive to the Fiery Furnace parking lot, but make sure to check out some of the other stops along the way if you haven't already.

The great part of the Fiery Furnace is that there is not a designated trail or route. There are tracks going in all different directions, but the Furnace is much like a maze and you will quickly discover that some of these tracks lead to dead ends or cliffs. A good time to go is during the winter months when traffic in the Furnace is minimal, but if you do go during the busier times, makes sure to not follow other groups and find your own path through the maze - also, daily permits are limited. Another nice aspect to the Furnace is that you are able to choose your distance and amount of time you want to hike, but prepare for a few hours at the minimum.

The entrance to the Fiery Furnace is from the north end of the Fiery Furnace Overlook parking lot near the bathrooms. The entrance and the exit are the same trail, so pay attention as you enter the maze and remember physical markers. Once in there there are many different directions to go. One of the highlights to look for is a small arch that you can crawl through to gain access into a small chamber, which is located on top of a ledge that can be easy to miss. Another highlight is a narrow slot that leads to a viewpoint of a portion of the Furnace, which may be too skinny for some, but there is another option for people with large chests like myself to the left.

Be ready to rock hop and shimmy through tight areas to truly explore the Fiery Furnace. There are canyoneering options as well to explore the Furnace further, which require another permit and registration, all of which can be done at the Visitor Center. Make sure to be respectful of other people and of the landscape and have fun!

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Features

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Fiery Furnace Loop Reviews

One of the coolest hikes I’ve done. Take every detour! Permits fill up FAST online, so set your alarms!! It is kind of difficult to navigate back to the parking lot at the end, but inside the furnace it is hard to get lost.

Make sure to check the park website on updates to permits and guided bikes within this section of the park. Since Covid 19 in 2020, this has been closed to entry.

This hike is a really cool place to go in and explore. There are small arrows that help direct you around the maze, but some of the coolest views are down different paths. We went early on the morning and there wasn't anyone else there. Very cool hike.

Got a permit to visit the Fiery Furnace in winter and there was no one else in the entire area. Complete silence made it worth the trip, but a lack of maps and suggested hikes made it a bit tricky on knowing where to go. Really neat area either way!

Fiery Furnace makes for a fantastic adventure in Arches. There are also ranger-led tours of Fiery Furnace everyday from spring to fall. You need to either reserve a space well in advance or try and snag a last minute ticket at the ranger station if someone cancels.

By far the most incredible part of Arches National Park. Truly a special experience as there are no trails throught the area, so you create your own adventure. Be sure to get a permit from the visitors center and follow the explicit instructions about the preservation of the area! It's also very easy to get lost without the access of trails so I brought a GPS and that made all the difference!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Broken Arch and Sand Dune Arch

Devils Garden Campground

Skyline Arch

Delicate Arch

Balanced Rock Loop

Pine Tree Arch