Indonesia closes 9 parks and Ijen crater to hikers

On 31 August 2026 Indonesia’s forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni announced a temporary halt to hiking in nine national parks during the dry-season fire spike. The stated aims are visitor safety and freeing crews for six priority provinces. A circular from the natural-resources directorate (KSDAE) was still to follow. Fires inside parks had already pulled water-bombing helicopters off other targets; at Bromo Tengger Semeru, flames trapped about 170 people on the trail.

Hiking is suspended on Semeru (Bromo Tengger Semeru), Kerinci Seblat, Ciremai, Tambora, Manusela, Bukit Baka Bukit Raya, Gede Pangrango, Leuser, and selected Lorentz approaches (Ilaga, Tsinga, Sugapa, Ugimba). Limited access under watch remains at Rinjani, Merbabu, the Hyang highlands (Argopuro) and Halimun Salak. That is not a nationwide mountain shutdown — these nine, plus Ijen later.

On 4 September East Java’s conservation office (BBKSDA) separately closed the Ijen Crater nature tourism park (not one of the nine) until further notice: fire reached Pondok Bunder on the crater path; a watch post sits at Paltuding.