Explore the Fiery Furnace

Permits help ensure Fiery Furnace hikers can experience solitude and wilderness.

There are two ways to see the Fiery Furnace beyond the viewpoint and fence:

• Get a permit to explore on your own (year-round, ages 5 and older, fee, permit required)
• Join a ranger-led hike (spring through fall, ages 5 and older, fee, reservation required)

A different kind of hiking

Hiking in the Fiery Furnace is a different experience from other trails in the park. You encounter many dead ends and it can be easy to get lost. There are small markers for one counter-clockwise route in the Fiery Furnace, but there are many other possible paths, and getting lost is a real possibility. GPS units do not work well due to the towering sandstone walls. Navigating its complex passages requires physical agility and careful observation. To protect the wildlife and plants that inhabit sand dunes and drainages between the rock walls, you will need to choose your steps wisely. We recommend first-time visitors to the Fiery Furnace join a ranger-guided tour or get a permit with someone who has been before.

Fiery Furnace Permits

If you want to enter the Fiery Furnace on your own, you must obtain the permit in advance.

• You must reserve a Self-Guided Fiery Furnace Exploration Permit online from Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. See fee information below.
• Permits may be reserved up to seven days in advance and must be reserved at least two days prior to the trip date.
• Group size is limited to six people and children under age five are not allowed. Pets are prohibited.
• Fiery Furnace permits are valid for a specified date and for day-use only (sunrise to sunset).
• Permits reserved in advance must be picked up in person at Arches Visitor Center, ideally between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. the morning before or the morning of the trip. All members of the hiking party must be present to watch a required educational video. Permits will not be issued within 30 minutes of visitor center closing.
• Self-Guided Fiery Furnace Exploration Permits are for private use only; commercial groups are not permitted in the Fiery Furnace. You can find trails approved for commercial use in the guided interpretive day hike conditions document: Read more about commercial use. Permits sell out very quickly during the busy season.

Timed Entry Tickets: During the April 3 to October 3, 2022 pilot timed entry system, Fiery Furnace permit holders will not need to obtain a Timed Entry Ticket in addition to a Fiery Furnace permit reservation.

Go with a ranger

Rangers offer Fiery Furnace hikes spring through fall. Tickets for these hikes are in high demand, and reservations are required.

What should I expect?

Everyone attending a Fiery Furnace hike should be aware of the challenging nature of the terrain and properly equipped for current conditions, including temperature extremes. During these physically demanding hikes, you will walk and climb on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges above drop-offs, and in loose sand. There are gaps you must jump across and narrow places that you must squeeze into and pull yourself up and through. In some places, you must hold yourself off the ground by pushing against the sandstone walls with your hands and feet.

Due to the maze-like nature of the terrain, all participants must complete the hike once they enter the Fiery Furnace.

To better judge the hikes' difficulty, you can watch a video or view a photo gallery.

You must wear good hiking shoes or boots with gripping soles. No sandals or high heeled shoes are allowed. Each person must carry at least one quart or liter of water. You should stow water and other gear in a backpack so that your hands are free to help navigate the terrain. Tripods are not recommended.

Age Restrictions

Due to the terrain's difficulty, we do not allow children under the age of 5 on either hike. An adult must accompany all children aged 12 and under.

What is the hike schedule?

Hikes are only offered spring through fall, and schedules may change. Confirm availability on the park website or at the visitor center.

How do I get a ticket?

• You can reserve tickets up to six months in advance at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777 (in North America) or [phone] (international).

Do I need to check in?

Yes, if you have a reservation, you must check in—in person—at Arches Visitor Center at least one hour before the hike begins, or up to four days in advance. Be sure to allow plenty of time during the busy season to enter the park and to drive to the meeting location.

Details

Activity

Off-Trail Permitted Hiking

Age(s)

5 and Older

Pets Allowed

No

Activity Fee

Yes

Fiery Furnace Permit Fees

The cost of Self-Guided Fiery Furnace Exploration Permits are:

• $6 for hikers aged 13 and over
• $3 for hikers aged 5-12
• $3 for hikers with an Interagency Senior Pass or Interagency Access Pass

 

Fiery Furnace Ranger-Led Hike Fees

Ranger-led Loop Hike

• $16 for adults
• $8 for children age 5–12

Ranger-led Out-and-Back Hike

• $10 for adults
• $5 for children age 5–12

Reservations

Yes

Reserve Fiery Furnace permits and ranger-led hike tickets online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777 (in North America) or [phone] (international).

Tickets for afternoon ranger-led hikes may be available at Arches Visitor Center, though they often sell out up to seven days in advance.

Accessibility Information

Working service animals are allowed in the Fiery Furnace accompanying a hiker with a permit or on a ranger-led tour.

Due to the undeveloped rocky terrain of the Fiery Furnace, most of its pathways are not accessible to wheelchairs.