We will be traveling to Utah the last week in April. I was looking into information for Arches and it looks like the ranger led hikes through the Fiery Furnace don't start until May. I'm assuming we can still stop to get passes to hike it on our own? (Let's hope the government shutdown is over by then!!!) I was wondering how well marked it is? My husband has a good sense of direction and we do quite a bit of hiking but have not done too much in Utah.

Any information would be welcome. Thanks for your input.

Check out the NPS site for Arches:

https://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm

If you click on the plan your visit and then look for the maps with the information on the trails you will see that it says to enter the Fiery Furnace trail without a ranger, you need to get a special permit at the VC. I think they do limit the number of people who can be in the area.

We haven't been able to get on the tour in several trips to Arches, but have done many of the others. The only one we've done that was rated difficult was to Delicate Arch, and that was only difficult because we are old and from elevation 0 and it has an elevation gain of a few hundred feet. Think climbing a 40 story building over slick rock.

Ive done The Firey Furnace twice, both times with a Ranger. Great hke and interesting talk. Not a hike I would want to do on my own. They started the guided req many years ago because they didnt have time to keep going in to rescue lost people. A few years ago, they opened it back up to tour or permits. Its a great experience, but you might do better to take a canyoneering tour with one of the local companies to a different destination. On those you learn to rapell!

There are ZERO signs in the Fiery Furnace--nada. It is a wavy jumble of rocks. You would totally need a compass/GPS and I would ask the ranger how well they work in there. You could be hanging out there for a loooong time. There are some amazing hikes in Canyonlands if you want something longer or more adventurous. And Delicate Arch is a must do.

Thanks StantonHyde, that’s what I thought. I think we will avoid that one. Any suggestions in Arches Canyonlands or near Escalante? No more than 4-5 miles round trip.

Click on my user name and look at my trip reports. Lots of hikes in Arches, Canyonlands, and Escalante--I have trip reports listing hikes for all of them, and more than one for Arches/Moab/Canyonlands--we go every February. We actually don't go into Arches because it can be so crowded. But for a first time visitor you have to do Delicate Arch in the Park.