Utah’s Fiery Furnace Trail Set to Welcome Hikers Again After Staffing Crisis
A popular hiking destination in Arches National Park will soon reopen after being closed for three weeks due to staffing shortages. Park officials have announced that the Fiery Furnace trail will be available to visitors starting April 15.
“In an update on its website, Arches National Park said that the Fiery Furnace would reopen to hikers with a self-guided permit on April 15. Ranger-guided tours will resume on May 4”, writes Outside Magazine.
Highly sought-after area
The Fiery Furnace is a small but highly sought-after area within the park. Despite being less than a mile long and only half a mile wide, its maze-like canyons and unique sandstone formations attract many visitors. Because of its delicate environment and complex navigation challenges, the park started using a permit system in the 1990s. Today, only 75 hikers are allowed to enter the area each day.
The trail was closed on March 23 when park officials said they didn’t have enough staff to keep visitors safe. This closure happened after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fired 1,000 national park employees and canceled job offers for 5,000 seasonal workers.
Although the government later changed its decision and announced plans to hire up to 7,700 seasonal National Park Service employees, the hiring process fell more than a month behind schedule.
At risk
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently ordered all national parks to stay open during their posted hours. It’s not clear if this order helped speed up the reopening of the Fiery Furnace. Some park advocates worry that keeping parks open with reduced staff could put visitors and natural resources at risk.
Hikers who want to visit the Fiery Furnace can make reservations through Reservation.gov.
