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Last updated: January 29, 2024

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Hike the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park

Explore one of the most remote parts of arches national park on a ranger-led or self-guided hike..

Arches’ Fiery Furnace is a stunning and remote maze of sandstone canyons. The only way to access this part of the park is via a ranger-led hike or with a self-guided exploration permit.

Ranger-Led Hikes

Ranger-led tours are usually offered daily from March through October. Arches National Park staff recommend that first time Fiery Furnace hikers join the 2.5-hour ranger-led hike as this section of the park is extremely easy to get lost in. Each hike includes up to 14 people. Keep your eye out for the summer schedule at www.recreation.gov/ticket/234668/ticket/116 .

Getting a Fiery Furnace Permit

Self-guided permits become available one week in advance at 8 a.m. on recreation.gov , and must be picked up in person at the Arches Visitor Center ideally the day before your hike. Permits are valid for up to six people and all members of your party must be present when you pick up the permit. Only 75 self-guided permits are available each day, so reserve yours as soon as possible. The park requires you to watch an informational video in person when you pick up your permit.

What Trail?

You won’t find traditional “trails” in this part of the park. There’s one 2.3-mile route marked by small signs on the rock, but the draw of this area is the labyrinth of unmarked passageways to explore. You’ll need to squeeze through tight canyons, balance on precarious ledges, jump gaps and hoist yourself up using your upper-body strength. GPS signal is often weak among the sandstone towers, so keep your wits about you to ensure you know where you’re going and where you’ve come from. You’ll likely encounter many dead-ends. If you’re an experienced canyoneer, you can even find routes in this area that require ropes.

The Fiery Furnace is like a maze, so once you start, you must finish by finding your way out.

Because of the strenuous nature of this part of the park, children under five years old aren’t allowed to hike here. Be sure to wear hiking boots or hiking shoes with good grip. Sandals aren’t allowed and other footwear like skate shoes are not recommended. Each person in your party must carry at least one liter of water. Bring a backpack for your water, snacks and camera to keep your hands free for climbing and balancing.

Reduce Your Impact in the Fiery Furnace

Be sure you know how to identify cryptobiotic or “living” soil before hiking in the Fiery Furnace and all desert ecosystems. Small living organisms make up a crust that protects the fragile desert landscape from erosion and harnesses the precious little water the desert receives each year. This crust can take thousands of years to form, and one footstep or tire track can kill it. Since there are no trails in Fiery Furnace, stick to sandy wash bottoms or rocky areas, which is required by your permit.

Another important place to avoid walking in Fiery Furnace is on the sand dunes. These dunes are important habitats for plants and wildlife, and walking on the dunes can destroy the plant roots that keep them intact.

Talk softly in the Fiery Furnace as your voice bounces off the canyon walls, amplifying it and potentially disturbing wildlife and other parties. Be sure to pack out everything you pack in including fruit peels and nut shells and human waste.

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Fiery Furnace

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Epic Guide to the Fiery Furnace Hike in Arches National Park

• October 30, 2022
• By foxintheforest

Last Updated on January 10, 2024 by foxintheforest

The Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park puts you in the heart of one of the most epic landscapes in the American Southwest. A unique, choose-your-own-adventure kind of hike, the Fiery Furnance feels like you’re wandering about cross country in the desert.

Slickrock scrambling, hidden arches, and surprise views await the adventurous hiker. As one of the top hikes in Arches National Park, the Fiery Furnace needs to be on your list.

As a long-time pro hiker (literally – I used to write for the outdoor industry) I’m an absolute expert at hiking in Arches. I’ve been to the park countless times and whenever I can I opt to snag a permit to the Fiery Furnace. So if you’re looking to get expert advice about hiking this iconic trail, you’re in the right place.

About This Guide to the Fiery Furnace Hike

Inside this expert guide to hiking the Fiery Furnace you’ll find:

• Practical info about the Fiery Furnace including location, time, and difficulty.
• Permit information about the Fiery Furnace and ranger-led tours
• Tips and tricks for hiking the Fiery Furnace
• Things to do nearby
• Additional expert resources for traveling around Moab

Where is the Fiery Furnace Hike?

The Fiery Furnace is located in Arches National Park , just off the main drag through the park.

You’ll find the start of the amazing Fiery Furnace adventure at the Fiery Furnace overlook. There are several parking spots and a pit toilet at the overlook. Many people stop by just to check out the overlook. Hiking past the overlook is only possible with a permit and the trailhead often has a ranger checking for permits.

The trailhead is about 36 minutes from Moab, along Arches Scenic Drive.

Pro Tip: It’s $35 to enter Arches National Park or free with an America the Beautiful Parks Pass .

Timed Entry for Arches National Park

Arches National Park has recently enacted a timed-entry system. You will need a special timed-entry reservation if you plan on entering Arches National Park from 7 am to 4 pm April through October.

You can make your reservation 3 months in advance, starting at 8 am MST for the entire month you are planning to go. For example, if you want to visit Arches in May (any day), timed entry slots open up on February 1 at 8 am MST.

A few time slots will be open one day prior at 6 pm, but do not make this your primary plan! It’s best to reserve your time in advance. You can do so through recreation.gov.

A timed-entry pass is required if you’re visiting during the timed-entry reservation requirement in addition to your Fiery Furnace Permit.

The Best Time to Hike

The best time to visit the Fiery Furnace is earlier in the morning in the spring or fall. Early morning means you’ll have a quieter experience and you won’t have to worry about the parking lot is full. You’ll also beat a lot of the ranger-led tours which is an added bonus.

Spring and fall have the best weather. Temperatures are cooler than the sweltering summer months, the park is slightly less crowded, and there’s less chance of rain.

Winters are fun too (that’s my personal preferred time to hike), but the trail can close due to snow. This is largely because you can’t see things like vegetation and cryptobiotic soils.

Pro Tip: Arches National Park frequently closes due to over-capacity, even if you have a permit. In order to ensure you’ll get into the park, showing up before 7 am during holidays, and late spring through fall is best.

Trail Facts

Interested in the Fiery Furnace hike? Here’s a look at some important info.

Distance : 2.1 miles Elevation gain : 492 feet Difficulty : Moderate to challenging depending on experience Average time: 2 – 3 hours Highlights : Skull Arch, Surprise Arch, hidden slot canyons, beautiful views, scrambling Red tape: Permit required. Must carry a toilet system (WAG bag) for human waste. No children under 5 and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Dog-friendly: No dogs are allowed

Keep in mind that there is not a real “trail” at the Fiery Furnace. In fact, you’ll be following tiny white arrows the entire hike. It’s easy (and fun) to get lost and explore random offshoots and canyons.

It is a bit challenging for those who haven’t had this kind of experience before. Be prepared to use your hands, drop into squeezes, walk on narrow ledges, and scramble around.

If you’re not experienced with desert hiking or scrambling, this will be a tough journey for you (I’d recommend going on a guided tour instead). However, if you’re like me and you’ve got plenty of cross-country desert experience, are used to navigating narrow canyons and scrambling rock formations, and are adventurous this is a simple class 3 jaunt into a stunning landscape.

Either way, the trail is designed to let you get lost a little bit, which adds to the fun!

Permits for the Fiery Furnace

In order to hike the Fiery Furnace, guided or not, you’ll need an advanced permit . Permits are $10 per person and are available one week in advance of the hiking date.

You can reserve your permits online, but you’ll have to head to the ranger station the day before to pick up your permit (9 am to 4 pm). You’ll be asked to watch an orientation video prior to hiking.

Can I Hike the Fiery Furnace Without a Permit?

Nope! You must have a permit to hike the Fiery Furnace. Permits can be quite competitive from spring through fall, especially on weekends. As one of the best hikes in Moab , this trail does see a bit of attention!

How Many Fiery Furance Permits Are There?

There are only 75 permits available for each day. The permit system keeps the natural feel of the hike, as well as allows for solitude along the hike.

Permitted groups are not allowed to link up. This is to preserve the quiet nature of the trail and have your own intimate experience in the Fiery Furnace.

Ranger-Led Tours of the Fiery Furnace Hike

If you’re nervous about finding your way through this maze of rock, then opt for a ranger-led tour. Available spring through fall, ranger-led tours cost $16 per person and follow the same rules as the individual permits. The ranger knows the way so you won’t have to worry about navigating the area.

Pro Tip: If you’ve never scrambled (used climbing moves on exposed sections of rock) through the desert before, a ranger-led tour is an awesome option. You’ll get pointers about how to move through this challenging landscape.

How Hard is the Fiery Furnace Hike?

Honestly, it depends. For the uninitiated, it’s a tough go despite this short distance. This is because there is no real defined trail. You’ll be following small brown and white arrows, with lots of room for interpretation on which way to head.

You’ll also be using your hands to climb up and down sections of rock.

With that being said, I did this hike when I was 30 weeks pregnant without much of a problem. Granted, I’m a rock climber with plenty of scrambling and off-trail desert hiking experience. We did get lost, several times, but that was part of the fun!

Tips for the Fiery Furnace Hike

So I’m not going to spoil your Fiery Furnace experience by giving you a play-by-play of the hike – that will literally ruin the point of the route! However, there are a few important things you’ll want to keep in mind as you hike around.

Wear Sturdy Footwear

Grippy hiking footwear or approach shoes are a must on this hike. You’ll be scrambling up sandstone rock and good traction keeps your feet steady. Sandals aren’t allowed in the Fiery Furnace.

Pack Out Your Trash

This is a pristine landscape. You’re required to pack out all of your trash. This includes toilet paper, poop, wrappers, fruit peels, water bottles, and other trash. Leave it better than you found it!

Don’t Follow the Footsteps

Following other footsteps won’t help you navigate. Lots of people wander around and many people get lost in the Fiery Furnace. Instead, look for the brown and white arrows. Just remember that it’s not always super obvious as to where you need to go.

Explore Washes and Small Canyons

There are a few fun gems to find on the Fiery Furnace hike. There’s Skull Arch, Surprise Arch, and a natural bridge. You can also find some fun squeezes and slot canyons if you’re looking carefully.

What makes this hike so unique is the ability to get a little lost and discover something cool. There are some signs that let you know if you’re headed toward a dead end.

Pro Tip: Don’t climb up what you can’t get back down. Climbing up is always easier than climbing down. It’s also illegal to walk across any arch or natural bridge in Arches National Park.

Stay on Sturdy Surfaces

Always hike on sturdy surfaces or in sandy washes. This means sticking to the slickrock or sandy river beds. Don’t step on the lumpy black soil – it’s actually alive and a key part of the desert ecosystem. Also, don’t step on plants, including grasses – as these plants take a while to grow, and stepping on them can kill their roots.

Soak in the Views

Along the hike, you’ll find quite a few spots with peek-a-boo views of the greater Fiery Furnace area and Arches National Park. These views are often to the side or even behind you. Don’t forget to look around and really soak in the landscape! It’s truly unique and feels quite like a maze that’s full of delightful surprises.

Start Early

We started our hike just after sunrise and had the entire area to ourselves. It was a real treat. So if you’re a solitude seeker like myself, get an early start!

In the summer months, it’s better to start early in order to hike in the cooler weather. You’ll also avoid the potential for the afternoon monsoon rain to flood out your hiking plans.

Bring Sun Protection and Plenty of Water

Even though you’ll be wedged between impossibly-tight slabs of rock, you’ll still want plenty of protection from the sun. There’s no drinking water on this hike, so be sure to bring at least 2 liters (more in the heat of the summer). Even though the hike is only 2 miles, you’ll be hiking more simply because you’ll get lost.

Pro Tip : The start of the hike is a little steep and really exposed, so be sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water!

Expect to Get Lost

Getting lost is part of the fun of the Fiery Furnace. Even if you’re well-versed in desert hiking, you’ll probably get stumped a time or two trying to find the next arrow. Enjoy the journey!

We got lost twice, once we ended up in some pretty squeezy slot canyon before we turned around. However, it was nice to slither around the rocks and enjoy the expansive landscape.

It adds time to your day, so plan accordingly!

Nearby Attractions

Looking for other things to do in Arches National Park? Check out these nearby destinations:

• Scope out the Delicate Arch hike
• Drive the Arches Scenic Road, one of the top scenic drives in Moab
• Visit the Windows and Double Arch
• Hike the Devil’s Garden Trail

Additional Arches National Park Resources

Planning a trip to Arches National Park? I’ve got you covered with this lineup of amazing expert resources:

• How to Spend the Perfect Day in Arches National Park
• Arches vs Canyonlands: What’s Right for Me?
• Visiting Arches in Winter: What You Need to Know

Meg Atteberry

Meg is a long-time Colorado local and outdoor industry professional. She's spent the last 15 years hiking, climbing, mountaineering, and canyoneering all over Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada in search of the best views. She's written for Outside Magazine, REI, Backpacker Magazine, and appeared on the Weather Channel.

Let’s connect!

Meg aka Fox is a 30-something who's born to explore. Toddler mom, queer, and neuro-spicy her favorite things to do are climb in the alpine and camp in the desert. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure.

USA Adventurer

How to Do the Fiery Furnace Hike [Arches NP]

Considering doing the Fiery Furnace hike in Arches? Here’s everything you need to know to do this bucket list trail!

Arches National Park is one of the most stunning, awe-inspiring National Parks in the US. Those arches! The rock formations! The colors!

However, not only does this park have really fantastic arches, but there are some epic, non-arch rock formations, too. And the best place in Arches National Park to really explore and see some wicked awesome rock formations is on the Fiery Furnace trail.

While the Delicate Arch hike has the best viewpoint and impressive arch in the park, in our opinion, Fiery Furnace easily is the funnest hiking experience. We’ve done every trail in Arches National Park , and everyone in our family raved about this trail. It takes some planning to be able to experience this incredible spot in the park, but it’s SO worth it.

In this guide, we’re sharing how to get permits, what you need to bring with you, what it’s like exploring the Fiery Furnace, and other practical information you need to know.

Quick Tip: If you’re planning a Southwest US road trip, I recommend reserving a rental car ASAP for the best prices and availability. I always book my car with this rental car aggregate site to find the best deals.

Why is Fiery Furnace Worth Hiking?

We absolutely adored this hike. First off, because permits are so limited, you hardly see anyone else when you’re hiking.

Second, although there is an “official” trail, you are strongly encouraged to deviate from it – very unusual for a national park. Instead, you explore and make your way through the tall fins and rocky areas, often feeling like you’re the first people to explore the area.

Third and finally, the landscape is just insane .

Fiery Furnace is made up of tightly packed, long rows of alternating fins and canyons. This creates a maze-like area, with narrow passageways, sheer walls, interesting rock formations, a few arches, and a ton of opportunities to scramble over the rocks.

Put all of that together, and you’ve got one of our favorite Arches National Park hikes .

Two Ways to Experience Fiery Furnace

There are two ways to experience Fiery Furnace: on a guided ranger tour at 9am and 9:30am, OR with a self-guided permit. Tickets for both options are very limited. Ranger-guided tours are available April-October, while the self-guided permits are available year round.

Which Fiery Furnace Tour Should You Do?

We opted for the arches self guided tour. Although on the NPS website, it says to only do the self-guided tour if you’ve already done the ranger guided tour, I feel that anyone with a decent map, sense of direction, and a basic level of hiking skill will be totally fine doing the self-guided tour from the get go. And in practice, the rangers encourage anyone to do the self-guided tour as long as they commit to good practices and are able to physically handle it.

The ranger option is not a bad option and also a great way to see the Fiery Furnace and learn more about its history and geology, but you are in a bigger group and don’t explore all the little offshoots.

Given the choice, I personally would for sure choose the self-guided tour again. However, if you want to learn about the Fiery Furnace while you hike, or you don’t want to navigate yourself through the canyons and fins (it is easy to get a bit lost), then the ranger-guided hike may be the better choice for you.

How to Obtain a Reservation and Permit for the Fiery Furnace Hikes

The process for obtaining a reservation and permit for the Fiery Furnace ranger guided hike and self-guided hike are very similar.

Getting a Reservation

For both hikes, you will need to make a reservation. You can make reservations online here or by calling 877-444-6777. To make a reservation online, you will need to have an account with recreation.gov. I would recommend making sure you have an account (and remember your password) well before trying to get a reservation.

Reservations open up at 8am Mountain Time, one week in advance. As tickets for both the ranger guided tours and self-exploration tours are very limited, tickets regularly sell out – and fast – especially in the summer busy season.

For example, when we logged on to get tickets during June, it showed 65 tickets available for the self-guided tour. These tickets were gone within 30 seconds. My tip would be to keep refreshing the page regularly a minute or two before 8am, so you can grab them as soon as they become available.

If the tickets are gone before you can get them, DON’T GIVE UP! I stayed on and kept refreshing, and 3 minutes later 2 tickets became available (not enough for our group of 6), and then at 8:06, 6 tickets became available and I was able to grab them! So even if it says they’re completely sold out, keep trying for a few more minutes.

Note : When writing this post in September, I checked the ticket page and the ranger-guided tour was sold out for the upcoming week, but there actually were tickets available in the self-guided tours. So, tickets don’t always sell out immediately, but I would still prioritize getting on at 8am MT the week before to get your tickets, just to be sure.

Ticket Costs and Requirements:

For the self-guided tour, tickets cost $10 per person. For the ranger-led tour, tickets are $16 per person. This cost is in addition to the general entry you’ll pay for Arches National Park, which is $30 per vehicle, or the $80 America the Beautiful Pass.

Groups are capped at 6 people for the self-exploration tour. Groups are not allowed to congregate or merge together. For either tour, children under 5 years old are not allowed to do the hike.

Picking up Your Permit

The reservation you made online is not the permit.

For the self-guided tour , you will need to pick up your permit the day before at the Fiery Furnace Moab Information Center (in Moab) from 1-4pm, or same day at the Arches Visitor Center from 9am-4pm.

You will have to watch a video (about 8 minutes) and listen to a ranger presentation (another 10-15), plus fill out some paperwork. Plan for 30-45 minutes for this orientation and to get your permit.

Note : Your entire group is required to be present when you are picking up your permit.

For the ranger-guided tour, you will need to pick up your permit the day before at the Moab Information Center (in Moab) from 1-4pm, or same day at the Arches Visitor Center from 7:30am-8:30am. Note that it takes 30-45 minutes to get to the trailhead from the visitor’s center, and you need to be at the trailhead 5-10 minutes before your hike is scheduled to start.

Navigating Through the Fiery Furnace Trail

The fun part of doing the Fiery Furnace trail is that there isn’t really a trail! Sure, there is a general (sometimes marked) pathway that will take you through the maze of rocks, fins, canyons, and dead ends, but there’s no real trail to speak of.

Additionally, part of the fun of hiking Fiery Furnace is going off the “trail” and discovering all the fun little spots, nooks and crannies, side canyons, slot canyons, rock piles, and other fun spots. You’re encouraged to wander around a lot and “get lost” – it’s part of the fun of the Fiery Furnace!

To help you not actually get lost though, there are approximately 15 little arrows throughout the rocks that indicate the direction of the main loop. These arrows were really helpful. It’s not always easy to see them, but its also not all that hard to find them.

We noticed 3 dead end signs on the route, but every time we saw one there was something cool behind it.

So, dead end = definitely a place to check out

I would also HIGHLY recommend having a trail map downloaded on your phone. We like and use Alltrails . It costs $15 for a year subscription which gives you the ability to download maps ahead of time.

There were other spots in Arches National Park we were very happy to have the trail map (e.g. Devil’s Garden, Tower Arch ), so I think it’s worth the cost even if you just use it at this national park (and honestly, I’d pay for it even if it was just for this one hike).

Because there is not a clear path to follow through the maze of canyons, pillars, and dead ends, it was extremely helpful for us to be able to refer back to our map, to make sure we were on the right track.

Of course, we went ahead and explored all the little nooks and crannies that we wanted, but it was nice to know where we were and not actually get lost.

What the Hike is Like

Okay! All the logistics are taken care of, and now you’re driving up to the trailhead. Here’s what it’s like to hike Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park.

Below is the Fiery Furnace viewpoint from the parking lot. You’ll be going down and hiking in between and around all those pillars and fins!

At the trailhead, there are lots of signs saying you must have a permit and if you don’t you can get big fines and even jail time – don’t hike without a permit!

Hiking down to the “entrance” : While you can hike clockwise or counter-clockwise, it’s recommended to go counterclockwise (so take the trail to the right from the parking lot). This way, you’ll be going the same direction as the arrows that are placed throughout the Fiery Furnace and are designed to lead you through the trail.

Entering in the furnace!

You will see lots and lots of cool features and rock formations. I loved the way this canyon curved up and around us!

There are lots and lots and lots of little offshoots, nooks, and crannies to explore:

And of course, lots of places to scramble, with occasional steep drops offs.

Occasionally there were spots we had to straddle a ledge to get across. These sections were fun, not dangerous (the dropoff wasn’t big at all), though there are places you can get hurt if you aren’t careful.

This picture really helps you appreciate all the fins in Fiery Furnace (and all the little slot canyons that it creates!)

The whole thing is very maze like. If you go down a canyon, it’s unlikely that it will loop and connect to another canyon.

Climbing down and out of the Fiery Furnace through that opening in the center.

Arches to See in the Furnace

There are at least 3 big, named arches to see as you explore the trails – Surprise, Skull, and Walk Through Bridge, plus some other, smaller arches. Walk Through Bridge is pretty easy to find, even without consulting a map (it’s down a spot marked as a dead end), but the other two are much easier to find if you have a map app on your phone.

How Long Does it Take to Hike the Fiery Furnace?

If you go straight through the trail, following the signs exactly and not doing any offshoots or extra exploring, you’ll go about 2 miles. We ended up doing about 4 miles, which took us a solid 3.5 hours, since there was a lot of technical aspects and scrambling, plus we of course took stops for pictures and snacks.

Elevation Gain : 850 feet

I feel like our elevation map really highlights the scrambly nature of the trail!

As does our route map from Alltrails:

Zooming in on the right side of the map, you can see all the little side trails, side canyons, nooks and crannies that we went and explored:

Practical Information and FAQ’s

Temperatures on the fiery furnace hike.

Despite the name, we found the temperatures to be quite nice during most of our time in the canyon. The tall rock walls created a lot of shade (we hiked between 8am-12pm) and so we were mostly in the shade, occasionally in the sun. Thanks to the shade, it was actually a pretty good temperature and fairly comfortable, despite highs that day being 103 F.

What is the Best Time to Hike the Fiery Furnace?

While you will never have “crowds” in the Fiery Furnace due to the limited number of permits, higher demand in summer and holiday weekends will make it more difficult to get the permits. However, be aware that it does snow in winter and snow (or rain for that matter) would make this hike much more difficult.

That said, most people do go during the summer, and I would recommend starting as early as possible, mainly to maximize the shade and lower the temperature for you, and also to avoid other people. We started around 8 a.m. and saw a couple of people at the beginning, but often felt alone.

The ranger groups start around 9 and they did catch up to us. While it wasn’t awful being by them – we enjoyed hearing some of the tidbits the ranger shared – we did deliberately go explore a side canyon to let them get ahead of us as soon as we could.

Protecting the Sand Biome

The park service really encourages you to walk on stone or in the sandy washes, not on the sandy biocrust or sandy areas that have vegetation. This is to protect the fragile desert life growing in the biocrust on the sand.

The soil crust helps keep together particles in the dirt, and traps and contains water and nutrients for the plants growing.

While it doesn’t look like much, this crust takes years to develop and is crucial for maintaining the fragile ecosystem in the arid desert of Arches.

Stay on the trails, rocks, or sandy washes, and try to stay off the sandy “sidebar” areas to help maintain this important lifeform!

Always Practice Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace involves packing out waste, not littering, respecting wildlife, not carving into the rocks, etc. Just be mindful of what you are doing and respect nature!

Is the Fiery Furnace Hike Worth It?

If it’s not already clear from my gushing review, I absolutely think the chance to hike in the Fiery Furnace is worth the time, extra cost, and extra effort to get the permits.

This truly was one of the best hikes we have ever done, bar none. Everyone had so much fun exploring and scrambling and admiring all the absolutely incredible views. Our little girls (5,  7, 9, 11) all did great on this hike and had a ton of fun. We loved the chance to explore this area that really felt like the “backcountry” in Arches National Park.

What Do You Need to Bring With You?

The following are several essentials you should bring or wear on this hike:

Water : Make sure you bring plenty of water (recommendation is at least 1 quart per person), plus some salty snacks. We found that using camelpacks was the best way to carry enough water for everyone.

Poop Bag: You also will need to pack out all solid human waste, any toilet paper you may use, and all trash.

While we made sure everyone in our group tried to use the bathroom at the trailhead before the hike, we still carried a “poop bag” with us just in case. You can buy these for a few dollars at the visitors center or order one ahead of time. Hey – better safe than sorry.

Hiking Shoes: For this hike, you definitely want to wear closed toe shoes. Good hiking boots with good grip and traction are preferred, but at the very least wear a solid pair of tennis shoes.

Other Places to Visit on Your Trip to Southern Utah

Arches is one of the most popular destinations in southern Utah , and you can’t miss highlights like Delicate Arch , Devil’s Garden , and Tower Arch , but there are a host of other incredible spots to visit nearby as well.

For example, you can swing by nearby Goblin Valley and freely roam through the goblin rock formations, or head down and spend a day in Capitol Reef National Park , the least visited park in Utah that is massively underrated and has beautiful rock formations.

In the southwestern corner of Utah, Zion National Park is very popular, but Bryce Canyon National Park is maybe my favorite park in Utah and can’t be missed, St George has a host of excellent hiking opportunities , and Snow Canyon State Park is a great hidden gem in Utah. Nearby Valley of Fire State Park and Cathedral Gorge State Park in Nevada have the most stunning scenery.

Grand Staircase-Escalante is a remote area of Utah that has wonders like the stunning Lower Calf Creek Falls and the insanely narrow slot canyons of Peekaboo and Spooky Gulch (which are some of my favorite slot canyons in the southwest ).

In the southeastern corner of the state you’ll find gems like Valley of the Gods , Natural Bridges National Monument , and Four Corners Monument , as well as access to nearby attractions like Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado or Lake Powell and Page in Arizona.

Final Thoughts on Hiking the Fiery Furnace

Have I convinced you to try and hike Fiery Furnace? I hope so! I’ve hiked a ton in Utah and it is seriously one of my top favorite hikes in the entire state. It’s a fantastically adventurous trail among some otherworldly scenery – I hope you get the chance to experience it!

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Theatres in Moscow

Cultural life of Moscow city is various and rich! Operas, ballets, symphonic concerts... Russian composers have created some of the most beautiful classical music. Russian classical music is very popular in Moscow. It is performed in many beautiful historical venues. Do not forget to include a visit to a concert hall in your itinerary when you are planning your stay in Moscow! And do it in advance.

There are almost no restrictions on dress code in Russian theatres. Visitors may wear jeans and sports shoes, they may have a backpack with them. Only shorts are not allowed.

A typical feature of Russian theatre – visitors are bringing a lot of flowers which they present to their favorite performers after the show.

Here are some practical advices where to go and how to buy tickets.

The Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre is the oldest, the most famous and popular opera and ballet theatre in Russia. The word “Bolshoi” means “big” in Russian. You can buy a ticket online in advance, 2-3 months before the date of performance on the official website . Prices for famous ballets are high: 6-8 thousand rubles for a seat in stalls. Tickets to operas are cheaper: you can get a good seat for 4-5 thousand rubles. Tickets are cheaper for daytime performances and performances on the New Stage. The New Stage is situated in the light-green building to the left of the Bolshoi's main building. The quality of operas and ballets shown on the New Stage is excellent too. However, you should pay attention that many seats of the Bolshoi’s Old and New Stages have limited visibility . If you want to see the Bolshoi’s Old Stage but all tickets are sold out, you can order a tour of the theatre. You can book such a tour on the official website.

If you want, following Russian tradition, to give flowers to the performers at the end of the show, in the Bolshoi flowers should be presented via special staff who collects these flowers in advance.

In August the Bolshoi is closed.

The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre

This theatre is noteworthy. On one hand, it offers brilliant classical opera and ballet performances. On the other hand, it is an experimental venue for modern artists. You can check the program and buy tickets online here http://stanmus.com/ . If you are opera lover, get a ticket to see superstar Hibla Gerzmava . The theatre has a very beautiful historic building and a stage with a good view from every seat. Tickets are twice cheaper than in the Bolshoi.

The Novaya Opera

“Novaya” means “New” in Russian. This opera house was founded in 1991 by a famous conductor Eugene Kolobov. Its repertoire has several directions: Russian and Western classics, original shows and divertissements, and operas of the 20th and 21st centuries. It is very popular with Muscovites for excellent quality of performances, a comfortable hall, a beautiful Art Nouveau building and a historic park Hermitage, which is situated right next to it. You can buy tickets online here http://www.novayaopera.ru/en .

Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Center

The Opera Center has become one of the best theatrical venues in Moscow. It was founded in 2002 by great diva Galina Vishnevskaya. Nowadays its artistic director is Olga Rostropovich, daughter of Galina Vishnevskaya and her husband Mstislav Rostropovich, great cellist and conductor. Not only best young opera singers perform here, but also world music stars do; chamber and symphonic concerts, theatrical productions and musical festivals take place here. You can see what is on the program here http://opera-centre.ru/theatre . Unfortunately “booking tickets online” is available in Russian only. If you need help, you can contact us at and we can book a ticket for you. 

Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and The Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory

These are two major concert halls for symphonic music in Moscow. Both feature excellent acoustics, impressive interior, various repertoire and best performers. You can check the program here http://meloman.ru/calendar/ . You need just to switch to English. Booking tickets online is available only for owners of Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian phone numbers. If you need help, you can contact us and we can book a ticket for you. 

Moscow International Performing Arts Center (MIPAC)

This modern and elegant concert hall houses performances of national and foreign symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, solo instrumentalists, opera singers, ballet dancers, theatre companies, jazz bands, variety and traditional ensembles. Actually, it has three concert halls placed on three different levels and having separate entrances. The President of MIPAC is People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Spivakov, conductor of “Virtuosy Moskvy” orchestra. You can see pictures of the concert halls here http://www.mmdm.ru/en/content/halls . The program is impressive in its variety but is not translated into English. You can contact us at and we can find a performance for you.