Lomatium Canyon
verified
ACA 3A
Moderate flood risk
Moab, UT
A two-rappel descent inside Arches' Fiery Furnace, two big drops connected by a sandstone hallway and reached through the labyrinth approach that defines the area.
Navigation through the Fiery Furnace fins is notoriously hard; GPS unreliable in dense towers. Experienced canyon guides typically pair first-time visitors with someone who has been through before, both to find the route and to keep traffic from trampling the sensitive cryptobiotic soil. Carry the permit on your person; rangers check.
Logistics
| Manager | NPS Arches NP, Fiery Furnace |
|---|---|
| Permit | Self-guided Fiery Furnace permit required, $10 per person (max 6 people), reservable through recreation.gov up to 7 days in advance. Physical pickup at the visitor center, includes mandatory 8 minute orientation video and 5 minute ranger talk; available day before or day of trip. Arches timed-entry park reservation required Apr 1 to Oct 31. Park entrance fee applies ($30/vehicle, 7 day). |
| Time | 4-7 hr |
| Technical | Rated 3A II (v3a1 II). Two rappels connected by a scenic sandstone hallway. R1 is 120 ft from two bolts with chains, R2 is about 70 ft from two bolts and ends in ankle-deep water in most years. Approach scrambles through a low fifth-class section called the Black Wall, then a V-slot changeover, then a crawl through the Rabbit Hole. |
| Season | Mar-Nov |
| Flood risk | Low to moderate. Compact Fiery Furnace drainage but the slot is short. |
| Vehicle access | Passenger car |
| Crowd | Permits often sell out. Frequently combined with Krill Canyon as a same-day pair. |
| Coordinates | 38.7471, -109.5601 |