Fiery Furnace — Attraction in Moab

Incredible hike! The views are phenomenal and the “side quests” are awesome! There are also awesome arches and formations all throughout it. It’s mostly shaded, which is super nice in the summer Moab sun. If there’s a sign that says “dead end,” I would recommend going down there since it usually means there is something cool or unique to look at.

A few things to know:

1. There is a permit required, which opens a week before and can sell out quickly for both the self-guided and ranger-guided tour. Make sure to get it ahead of time. You’ll also need to complete a short training (it takes about 20 minutes) either the day before or day of at the visitor center before going down. They also discourage groups meeting up and going with more than 6 at a time.
2. For the most part, the hike is fairly moderate, but there are definitely spots where you will need to climb through crevices and up rocks.
3. We did the self-guided tour and the trail was not well-marked. There are tiny arrows, but they are so small they are hard to see and blend in with the rock. I recommend getting a map or going with somebody who has been before...

This hike breaks you. We arrived late afternoon to do this hike (we did Delicate first, we had limited time). When we arrived we saw a group of youngsters spread out in utter exhaustion on at the trial head. We thought, "Wow, they must've done some "extra" stuff. Boy, were we wrong. This hike will tax you. It's is non-stop, exhilarating canyoneering. You need to know what you're doing. Many crossings are narrow, steep, or a precipice - most of the time, all of the above. Don't get me wrong, the hike is stunning and the views rewarding. But much harder than anticipated or explained. Which brings me to my gripes: The arrows are terrible. You really can't see them. It may be fun to look for them when you have all day. But if you get a late start, and need to beat the sun, you're in trouble. One area in particular the arrow misleads and makes you go down a large boulevard only to fizzle out into many dead ends and retracing your steps...

By far the best experience about Arches National Park. This is such a hidden gem and totally worth buying the backcountry pass for $6 a person to explore Fiery Furnace. Some advice...take plenty of water and food. Pack in and pack out so you preserve this magnificent wonder. Walk on rock and washes but please do not damage the crust. We are experienced hikers and spent 6 hours and traveled over 16 miles of climbing rocks to get a better viewpoint. Take plenty of pictures so you can remember where to go. It's a maze/labyrinth... so be prepared to back track. I would suggest wearing gloves when climbing and beware of your surroundings. We enjoyed being able to experience it at our own time and speed but Ranger led tours are available. If you are new to hiking or have smaller children, we suggest taking the Ranger led hike. Passes go fast so be prepared to wait several days...