The peak of the climbing season in the middle of this year requires adventurers to plan their trips more carefully. National park authorities in several regions have announced temporary closures of hiking trails from July to August 2026 to support a series of sporting events, sacred local traditions, and the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Mount Arjuno-Welirang area is implementing a gradual closure policy. All hiking trails, including Bukit Lincing, will be closed on July 3-5, 2026, for the Mantra Trail Run event. Meanwhile, the Tambaksari trail will be closed on July 24-25. Entering August, a total closure will be enforced from August 14-17 for the Indonesian Independence Day celebrations, followed by the closure of trails via Lawang and Bukit Lincing on August 28-29, 2026.
In West Java, the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park Authority is completely closing access to hiking trails from July 23-29, 2026. This decision was made because the trails will be focused on serving as the venue for the international trail running competition, the Jakarta Open Trail Run, which is part of the SEATRC agenda.
Mount Merbabu is also adjusting its hiker access schedule. The Thekelan trail is scheduled to close on July 28, 2026, out of respect for local traditions, while the route via Selo will be closed from July 31 to August 2, 2026, in preparation for the Merapi Merbabu De Trail (MMDT) event. Prospective hikers are advised to choose alternative routes that remain open for smooth trip planning.
Lastly, climbing Mount Semeru will be temporarily suspended from August 7-18, 2026. This closure is specifically dedicated to supporting the execution of Hari Raya Karo, a sacred tradition of the Tenggerese people centered in Ranupani Village. The management urges all hikers to continuously monitor the official information channels of each national park before traveling, as closure schedules may change at any time depending on weather conditions and the latest operational policies.
