Fiery Furnace

Fiery Furnace: red sandstone fins and slot canyons shaped by erosion and uplift.

Insider tip

Bring offline maps; GPS often fails inside the maze

Insider tip

Enter with a permit or join a ranger-led tour for safety and orientation

Natural Attraction

Natural Attraction★ 4.9
Geological Formation4,730 ftGolden-hour pick

Red sandstone fins rise in a maze of narrow passages, catching late-day light like embers in a furnace. The view into the Fiery Furnace reveals towering walls and sinuous slots carved through Entrada sandstone. The rock story here is wind, water, and temperature-driven erosion, with beneath‑surface salt layers guiding how the blocks crack and separate.

Getting there & parking

How To Get There
Drive to Fiery Furnace Viewpoint and park (limited parking). A 0.1 mile walk leads to the designated viewpoint; entering the maze requires a permit or ranger-led tour.
Distance From Entrance
14 miles from the park's visitor center along the main park road.
Road Type
Paved main park road to viewpoint; interior access uses trails and rugged terrain
Parking Availability
Limited parking at Fiery Furnace Viewpoint; turn-off is 2.7 miles north of the Delicate Arch road and 2.1 miles south of the Sand Dune Arch Trailhead.
Peak Fill Times
Summer holidays and weekends
GPS Coordinates
38.7422260° N, -109.5646610° W

When to go

Best Time To Visit
Fall is best for hiking with warm temperatures and infrequent rain; Spring is good though a bit wet; Ranger-led tours run spring through fall; Golden Hour lighting at sunset yields the most dramatic color.
Best Visit Times
Fall; mornings/evenings for best light and cooler temperatures
Sunrise Sunset Quality
Golden Hour at sunset; morning light also favorable for photography
Best Season
Fall
Busiest Season
Summer holidays and weekends
Seasonal Access
Spring through fall for ranger-led tours; fall is preferred for hiking; summer is busiest
Snow Lingering
Snow can linger and close passages in winter
Winter Access
Limited; closures possible during snow
Weather Patterns
Heat dominates summer; cooler yet pleasant in fall; spring can bring intermittent rain; winter shade and possible snow

What you will experience

Attraction Type
Geological Formation
Main Features
Slot canyon, fins, towering sandstone walls, near-mile-long maze; 1/3–1/2 mile wide; tall walls
What Youll See
Towering red sandstone fins, narrow slots, drifting light within the maze, salt-affected rock layers, pockets of canyonland biscuitroot and crusts
Unique Characteristics
Large concentration of Canyonlands biscuitroot; salt anticlines beneath Entrada sandstone influence fracturing; ephemeral pools and biological soil crusts in microhabitats
Photo Opportunities
Golden-hour glow on the fins; silhouettes and long shadows in narrow slots; beams of light through slot openings
Photography Spots
0.1 mile viewpoint; interior passages glow at sunset; pockets of light create dramatic compositions
Best Viewpoints
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint (0.1 mile from parking) offers the clearest overlook of the maze; sunset light highlights the red walls
Common Wildlife
Goats, sheep, pika
Best Wildlife Times
Spring
Geological Formation Type
Slot canyon, fins, sandstone (Entrada); salt-influenced fracturing beneath (Paradox Formation)
Scientific Interest
Displays fin and slot canyon erosion in Entrada sandstone; interplay of tectonic uplift, wind and water erosion, and buried salt layers; habitat for Canyonlands biscuitroot and soil crusts

Facilities, fees & access

Entry Fees
Varies
Permits Required
Yes
Restrooms Available
No
Picnic Areas
No
Water Available
No
Cell Service
Limited; GPS devices and compasses unreliable inside the maze
Interpretive Signs
Yes
Accessibility
Viewpoint is easily reached by a short walk; interior access requires a permit; terrain is rugged and maze-like
Accessibility Level
Ranger-led or self-guided permit required; interior exploration not recommended for first-time visitors.
Nearby Services
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint parking; basic park facilities nearby; nearest services at the park facilities
Nearby Facilities
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint parking; nearby facilities exist in the park but interior access is backcountry
Family Friendly Notes
The maze is physically demanding; keep children close; permit required; plan for heat and dehydration

Safety

Safety Considerations
No interior safety barriers; extreme drop-offs and scrambling over broken sandstone; stay hydrated; heat illness risk; poison ivy near water; plan for disorientation due to maze-like terrain

Nearby

Nearby Attractions
Delicate Arch Viewpoint, Sand Dune Arch, Windows Section, Devils Garden
Connecting Trails
Ranger-led routes; interior routes depend on permits; multiple passage options within the maze
Trailheads Here
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint

Planning advice

Insider Tips
  • Bring offline maps; GPS often fails inside the maze
  • Enter with a permit or join a ranger-led tour for safety and orientation
  • The maze rewards slow navigation and deliberate movement
  • Sunset light makes the rocks glow red; plan for golden hour photography
Tips Advice
  • Obtain a permit or join a ranger-led tour; interior access is mandatory.
  • Parking is limited at the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint; arrive early or use the overflow.
  • Carry at least 1 liter of water per person; heat illness is a real risk.
  • Wear grippy shoes; keep hands free for scrambling.
  • GPS and compasses do not work well here; bring offline maps.
  • Watch for poison ivy near water sources; dehydration and sun exposure demand breaks in shade.

More details

Park Area
Arches National Park
Recent Updates
No recent updates available
Elevation Feet
4730
Visitor Center Present
Yes
Guided Tours Available
Yes
Fishing Nearby
No
Swimming Allowed
No
Boating Allowed
No
Climbing Areas
No
Review Summary
At 4.9 stars from 123 reviews, visitors prize the Fiery Furnace for its dramatic red walls and the thrill of maze-like navigation; entry requires a permit, and exploring the interior is physically demanding, but the payoff is a rare inside-view of Arches’ erosion-driven architecture.

Location

Fiery Furnace Viewpoint Trail at Arches National Park offers striking desert scenery and canyon views.Fiery Furnace overlook within Arches National Park showcases sculpted red rock towers and distant snow-capped peaks.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need a permit to enter the Fiery Furnace interior?

Yes. Interior access requires either a ranger-led tour or a self-guided permit; without a permit, the maze is off-limits.

Is it worth the 2.5-mile ranger-led experience for first-timers?

Yes. The 2.5-mile, ~2.5-hour tour reveals the maze’s best routes and geology from within, which a viewpoint alone cannot capture.

Can my 65-year-old parent manage the interior maze?

Interior navigation is rugged and disorienting; the viewpoint is easy to reach (0.1 miles) but interior exploration demands fitness and caution; consider a guided tour for comfort and safety.

Is parking easy and should I arrive early?

Parking is limited at the Fiery Furnace Viewpoint; arriving early improves the chance of a spot, and planning for overflow parking helps with access during peak times.

Is it hot in fall, and do I need to worry about sun exposure?

Fall offers cooler temps and reliable photography light; still carry water, wear sun protection, and be prepared for warm afternoons if you stay late in the day.

Old City Park

Red arches formed by erosion in Entrada sandstone. High arch density, easy roadside viewpoints.

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Sources

Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.

Last updated February 2026. Report an issue.