Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park, UT

Hike Fiery Furnace Arches National Park, UT

Class 1 2.0 miles 500 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Sep 30, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Fiery Furnace GPX Track

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An inexpensive permit is required to enter the Fiery Furnace without a group. Just go to the visitor's center and watch a short video to obtain the permit, and don't step on any of the biological soil crust. The stats for this hike aren't all that accurate since it's really up to you which direction to explore.

The most fun aspect of the Fiery Furance is that there are no trails. The only requirement is a permit and to stay on the slickrock or washes to avoid hurting the fragile soil. There are so many rock alleys to scramble through and rock arches randomly positioned all throughout the fin-like rock formations. Really a great experience and a big difference from the rest of the overly-crowded Arches National Park. My friend Shawn and I sort of spontaneously decided we didn't want to get any work done, so we left Moab and rushed to Arches National Park, where we watched the required video on the Fiery Furnace before proceeding to run around the playground-like area. I couldn't retrace our route, but that's half the fun. We saw a few random arches and did some little excursions into dead ends until sunset.

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At the trailhead, we turned right and followed a different trail from the more obvious one leading into the Fiery Furnace.
At the trailhead, we turned right and followed a different trail from the more obvious one leading into the Fiery Furnace.
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Lots of cool pinnacles all over.
Lots of cool pinnacles all over.
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Our first section of taller pinnacles.
Our first section of taller pinnacles.
One of the first arches we stumbled upon. Photo by Shawn.
One of the first arches we stumbled upon. Photo by Shawn.
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A double arch somewhere in the Fiery Furnace.
A double arch somewhere in the Fiery Furnace.
Shawn looking at biology things in the water. I was too captivated by the landscape.
Shawn looking at biology things in the water. I was too captivated by the landscape.
Lots of fun stemming and scrambling. Photo by Shawn.
Lots of fun stemming and scrambling. Photo by Shawn.
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The maze led us to a few sections where we couldn't find a way to scramble down.
The maze led us to a few sections where we couldn't find a way to scramble down.
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Sunset in the Fiery Furnace really made the place burst with fiery color. Aptly named area of Arches National Park.
Sunset in the Fiery Furnace really made the place burst with fiery color. Aptly named area of Arches National Park.
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Headed back out on the main trail.
Headed back out on the main trail.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!