Fiery Furnace, Arches National Park, Utah

 Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park. Relatively unknown in Arches.

When it comes to Arches, Delicate Arch is the first one people go. Actually Arches has much, MUCH more. 

Fiery Furnace hike needs to get a permit and you need to watch a video and listen to a short talk from a ranger at the Visitor center before the hike in the early morning. There is no official trail, and the whole purpose is "get lost" in the Fiery Furnace. Despite that, most people go to the same attraction spots of arches and interesting viewpoints. Due to internet, all are listed on whole kinds of hiking Apps. Another level people go to Fiery Furnace for canyoneering with ropes. I am not into that, so we sticked to the normal route. 

Overview

First of all, why is it called Fiery Furnace? The left picture is the overview of Fiery Furnace area and it explains everything....well for native English speakers.  For non-native English speakers need dictionary to understand. 

On the second thought, it doesn't need to know how it is named. Just accept the interesting geological shapes and enjoy is more natural thing. That removes the prejudice of the perception of places. 

Surprise Arch

From outside of Fiery Furnace area, arches cannot be visible, but once inside you can enjoy multiple arches and interesting shapes of rocks. The right picture is the first arch we saw. Surprise Arch.  

Kissing Turtle Arch

Kissing Turtle Arch. Cute huh?

Skull Arch

Skull Arch. This is my favorite spot in Fiery Furnace hike. It is very interesting two holes right each other, like glasses. In the future it is probably going to be just one hole in my guess. We had a snack here by looking up this. Very good time. 

I don't know what it is, but interesting shape (left picture). When it is not an arch, literally nobody explores. Nice to get solitude. 

Bottom is another structure, similar to kissing turtle arch, but with stripes. 

Overall it is a short hike around 3 miles. It is great to see some hidden arches in Arches National Park. A little hectic to do permit/pickup thing. To be honest, I wouldn't come back too soon due to low level of solitude, but doing once is a good experience. 

Upper Muley Twist Canyon + Strike Valley, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

 Very remote and solitude hike in National Park. 

With recent increased crowds in National Park, it is almost impossible to have a hike without anybody in National Park these days. This hike is an exception and exceptional. We did not see a single person for the entire hike of 10.3 miles + dirt road drive of 6 miles. The hike is scenic every single step. 

Upper Muley Twist Canyon is a hike within Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. It is 9.5 mile day hike of loli pop. The same trailhead has a short hike, 0.8 mile total, to the Strike Valley overview as well. We did both. It includes walking in wash and rim with some navigation, thus mileage is just an approximate. 

This hike has so many arches to see on the first half of hike, and the other half has massive vast valley view. From beginning to the end, it was quite a view packing day. The left picture is the very first arch to see. Very nice weather and the sunlight perfectly illuminate the arch and makes it look even more glorious. 

It is not only arches to see. Many magnificent rocks to see. The moon was in the blue sky and it added the uniqueness of the scene. 

More arch! Smooth 

More. Every arch is different. This one is fat. Reminded me of Phipps arch, another very fat arch in the Escalante area. 

More.

After looking at various arches from wash walk, climbing up to the ridge and coming back towards the trailhead. This way has a vast view like left picture. In some portions on the ridge, the left side is the vast view, and the right side is looking down the wash and the arches below. Looking down at the arches already looked up before was great. 

Even after the hike of 10 miles, still joy continues. The 6 mile of dirt road drive is super scenic as well. Next three pictures are the arches along the dirt road. What a day!

Double arch. 

Another double arch up high.