Fiery Furnace Day-Use Permit
Arches National Park · Utah
Required permit to enter the Fiery Furnace area.
Get an alert when Fiery Furnace opens on your dates.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Fiery Furnace were gone within 10 minutes.
Fiery Furnace reservation dates
- route distance, loop
- 2mi
- elevation gain
- 250ft
How to get a Fiery Furnace permit
As of September 2026, Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park, Utah requires a permit issued via reservation. Fiery Furnace is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Fiery Furnace permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Fiery Furnace route covers 2 miles with 250 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate.
- Type
- Day Use
- Location
- UT
Step 1: Create a National Park Service account
Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Step 4: Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
More on Fiery Furnace: Live availability activityWhen Fiery Furnace permits open upChance of an opening
The Fiery Furnace hike
- Distance
- 2 miles
- Elevation Gain
- 250 ft
- Route Type
- Loop
- Duration
- 2-3 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation Range
- 4,550 - 4,800 ft
Navigate a labyrinth of sandstone fins where every passage leads to another discovery and the familiar concept of 'trail' disappears entirely.
About this permit
Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth of sandstone fins in Arches National Park. Access requires either a ranger-led tour or a self-guided permit obtained in advance. There is no marked trail. Navigation is by intuition, landmarks, and GPS.
The permit protects this fragile environment while allowing genuine exploration. Expect scrambling, route-finding, and discovery.
The route
From the Fiery Furnace parking area, permitted hikers enter the labyrinth through marked entry points. From there, route-finding becomes personal. The NPS provides general guidance on which areas to avoid (fragile cryptobiotic soil, dangerous drops) but within those constraints, exploration is free-form.
Ranger-led tours follow a specific route and explain the geology. Self-guided permits allow independent exploration with GPS waypoints for key features and exits.
Why it matters
Fiery Furnace is Arches' hidden world. While visitors photograph Delicate Arch from the viewpoint, permitted explorers squeeze through slots and scramble over rocks in a maze that reveals new arches, formations, and perspectives with every turn.
The feeling
There is no trail. The fins rise around you like walls in a maze, blocking sight in every direction. You squeeze through a crack, climb over a rock, and discover a tiny arch that no guidebook mentions. Then another passage, another discovery. It's controlled chaos, and it's addictive.
Fiery Furnace hike highlights
- No maintained trail. Free-form exploration within maze of fins.
- 2-3 hours typical visit
- Scrambling and squeezing through passages required
- Hidden arches and formations to discover
- Self-guided or ranger-led options
How hard the Fiery Furnace hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required3/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills2/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity4/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route2/5
Best for: Explorers who enjoy route-finding and discovery over following trails.
Recommended experience: Basic hiking fitness. Comfort with unstructured exploration.
Not recommended for: Those who need clear paths. Anyone uncomfortable with scrambling or getting temporarily disoriented.
When to hike Fiery Furnace
Best time to visit
Spring and fall for ideal temperatures. Summer is hot. Avoid after rain when rock is slippery.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (4,550 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 4: 77% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
84°
47°
Wed
90°
61°
Thu
91°
68°
Fri
73°
63°
77%
Sat
81°
54°
Sun
83°
56°
Mon
71°
51°
Fiery Furnace rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- Sturdy footwear with good grip
- Water (1L minimum)
- GPS device or phone with downloaded map
- Sun protection
- Closed-toe shoes (mandatory)
Recommended gear
- Camera
- Knee pads for scrambling
- Light pack that fits through slots
- Snacks
- Layers for shade/sun transitions
Rules & regulations
- 01Permit required (ranger tour or self-guided)
- 02Self-guided permits limited and must be reserved in advance
- 03Stay on rock surfaces (protect cryptobiotic soil)
- 04No climbing on arches
- 05No pets permitted
Hazards & considerations
- Getting lost. Maze navigation is challenging.
- Scrambling injuries. Uneven terrain throughout.
- Heat in summer. Limited shade between fins.
- Cryptobiotic soil damage if you step off rock
- Flash floods during monsoon season
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Fiery Furnace.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Fiery Furnace · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Fiery Furnace FAQ
How do I get a Fiery Furnace permit?
PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Fiery Furnace cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Fiery Furnace permits use a reservation system.
When is the best time to visit Fiery Furnace?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Fiery Furnace permit?
This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
What if I can't get a Fiery Furnace permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
Fiery Furnace trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions(1)
Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Fiery Furnace permit
- Easier AlternativeNo permit needed
Devils Garden Trail
Arches' longest trail with multiple arches including Landscape Arch. No permit needed.
Tradeoffs
More structured experience. More arches visible but less exploration freedom.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Fiery Furnace Ranger Tour
Guided version of the same experience with ranger interpretation.
Tradeoffs
Less freedom, more information. Good introduction before self-guided return.
Where to stay near Fiery Furnace
- Dixon Springs State Park Group CabinsDixon Springs State Park
- Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area Primitive campgroundHamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area
- Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area campgroundHamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area
- All Utah campgrounds
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