Krill Canyon

Krill (aka Belly of the Whale) is one of two well-known canyoneering routes in the Fiery Furnace. This route is frequently combined with the other well-known route, Lomatium, but both routes can be done independently. To keep things clear and organized this page details the beta for Krill while a separate page details the route for Lomatium.

As mentioned, the Fiery Furnace is a natural labyrinth, making detailed route descriptions of limited use, but an attempt will be made here. Krill can be approached in two different ways: either as an add-on immediately after completing Lomatium, or as a standalone route starting from the Fiery Furnace entrance. If you are linking Krill onto Lomatium, follow the Lomatium exit beta. After the second rappel, walk only a short distance south toward Skull Arch. Before you reach the arch, you will pass a rubble-filled side drainage on your right (north). This steep, debris-strewn channel is the start of the Krill approach. If you overshoot and reach Skull Arch, simply turn around and look north—the same rubble drainage will be directly in front of you. You can skip Lomatium altogether and approach Krill directly from the Fiery Furnace parking lot. From the parking lot, begin by locating the two access paths used for the ranger-led (and self-guided) route. The ranger-led route travels counter-clockwise through the Fiery Furnace, and these two paths represent its end and beginning. Take the southern path. This path begins as a clear, well-worn trail heading south and east from the parking lot. It is easy to follow at first, but quickly transitions from a trail into a route. You will soon reach a natural drainage, and from here you will be at the southern end of the furnace (which is the bottom and section of lowest elevation) and you will generally follow the drainage eastward. The ranger-led route is marked by small, directional arrows. These arrows are not always easy to spot, and you really should not focus on trying to find them. Continue eastward along this route for roughly 20 minutes. Eventually you will reach one of the "Dead End" signs—the correct one is obvious because the route continues well past the sign and the walls rise higher on both sides, giving the area a much more canyon-like feel; when you reach this sign, take the spur that turns northward.” This section of the Furnace becomes more canyon-like, with higher walls on either side. When you reach Skull Arch, stand at its base and look north. Directly ahead is a rubble-filled side drainage—a steep, boulder-strewn chute. This is the start of the Krill approach. If you were exiting Lomatium, you would encounter this same drainage coming from the opposite direction.

The Krill route features a single free-hanging rappel into a dark chamber known as the “Belly of the Whale.” The rappel is anchored from three old pitons that have been in place for at least 12 years as of this writing (12/25). Midway down, the chamber flares into a smooth, rounded cavity resembling the interior of a whale’s belly. That visual association is what led to the feature’s nickname, while the route itself takes the name Krill—a nod to the tiny creatures whales consume and a playful tie-in to the cavern’s whale‑like shape. Once you complete the rappel and retrieve your ropes, continue downslope. You’ll encounter a 40‑foot sloping section of rock that looks like it might require a rappel but can usually be downclimbed with careful use of body friction. If needed, you can build an anchor and rappel this section or assist everyone except the last person.