Reservation6/10
Arches Canyoneering cancellations
Day permit for the eight established canyoneering routes in Arches outside the F...
Fiery Furnace Day-Use Permit
Arches National Park · Utah
One date at a time
Required permit to enter the Fiery Furnace area.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Fiery Furnace were gone within 10 minutes.
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Fiery Furnace Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
Fiery Furnace Permit Facts
- 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.
- The Fiery Furnace route covers 2 miles with 250 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate.
- Cancelled Fiery Furnace permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeDay Use
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationUT
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
2 miles
Elevation Gain
250 ft
Route Type
Loop
Duration
2-3 hours
Difficulty
ModerateElevation Range
4,550 - 4,800 ft
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
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall for ideal temperatures. Summer is hot. Avoid after rain when rock is slippery.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Getting lost. Maze navigation is genuinely 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
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (4,550 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Day 5: Extreme heat (104°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 6: Extreme heat (104°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 7: Extreme heat (104°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
🌧️
83°
70°
26%
Sat
☁️
86°
71°
47%
Sun
🌧️
90°
70°
Mon
☁️
89°
62°
Tue
🌧️
104°
72°
Wed
☁️
104°
76°
Thu
🌧️
104°
75°
24%
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
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.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation4/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
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.
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 Experience
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 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.
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •Permit required (ranger tour or self-guided)
- •Self-guided permits limited and must be reserved in advance
- •Stay on rock surfaces (protect cryptobiotic soil)
- •No climbing on arches
- •No pets permitted
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
- Camera
- Knee pads for scrambling
- Light pack that fits through slots
- Snacks
- Layers for shade/sun transitions
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Fiery Furnace
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
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Key Landmarks
↑250 ft gain
High:4,800 ft
Low:4,550 ft
Full interactive trail profile with key landmarks. Sign up to track this permit.
Fiery Furnace FAQ
How do I get a Fiery Furnace permit?
Fiery Furnace permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Fiery Furnace?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally 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.
👥Community
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Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Devils Garden Trail
Easier AlternativeArches' longest trail with multiple arches including Landscape Arch. No permit needed.
No permit needed
Tradeoffs
More structured experience. More arches visible but less exploration freedom.
Fiery Furnace Ranger Tour
Similar ExperienceGuided version of the same experience with ranger interpretation.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Less freedom, more information. Good introduction before self-guided return.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Fiery Furnace trip
Very HardIn Demand26 sitesCanyonlands National Park Needles District Campground
Canyonlands National Park
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Very HardIn Demand3 sitesCanyonlands National Park Needles District Group Campsites
Canyonlands National Park
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Very HardIn Demand57 sitesDevils Garden Campground
Arches National Park
Book campsite
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