The Fiery Furnace is a collection of narrow sandstone canyons, fins and natural arches located near the center of Arches National Park in Utah, United States.The area is a popular hiking destination that was named for the reddish hue it exhibits in sunset light.[1] Arches National Park has more than 2,000 cataloged sandstone arches,[2] with some being located in the Fiery Furnace, including Walk Through Arch, Crawl Through Arch, Skull Arch, Kissing Turtles Arch, and Surprise Arch.[3]
The Fiery Furnace contains a variety of plant species, including one of the largest known concentrations of Canyonlands biscuitroot.[4] Fragile ecological features such as biological soil crust and ephemeral pools are also found within the Fiery Furnace, and are vulnerable to visitor impact.[5]
Due to the environmental impacts of heavy visitation, the National Park Service initiated a permit system in 1994 to limit access to the Fiery Furnace.[6] Visitors may purchase permits to hike in the Fiery Furnace alone or join a ranger-guided tour.[7] Two trails lead hikers from the parking lot into the Fiery Furnace, but once inside, hikers must navigate the trailless labyrinth of rock formations.[8] To minimize impact on the plant communities, visitors must walk along sandy washes or on sandstone surfaces. During the approximately ranger-guided tour, which lasts about three hours, visitors will encounter uneven terrain, drop-offs, and narrow passages.[9] Rangers describe the history of the area, while noting the most prominent arches and other geologic features.[10] Visitors can also choose to obtain a self-guided permit and hike through the Fiery Furnace on their own; however, they are required to watch an orientation video describing the area and how to minimize their impact.[11]