The Torean Hiking Trail of Mount Rinjani is Temporarily Closed Due to Forest Fires

The Torean hiking trail within Mount Rinjani National Park, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, has been temporarily closed after a forest fire occurred at Bukit Setampol. This closure was implemented by the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) Management Authority as a measure to protect hiker safety while preventing further spread of the fire's impacts.

The fire broke out in the Torean Resort sector on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. One day following the incident, the West Nusa Tenggara TNGR Authority formally enacted the temporary closure of the Torean hiking route.

"In response to the forest fire at Bukit Setampol, Torean Resort on Tuesday 22 September 2026, we have issued a temporary closure order for the Torean hiking trail in North Lombok Regency," stated Budy Kurniawan, Head of West Nusa Tenggara TNGR Authority, while speaking in Mataram on Wednesday.

This closure took effect on 23 September 2026, and no reopening date has been determined at this time. Field conditions will remain under continuous official review before any decision is made to reopen the trail.

"This temporary closure applies from 23 September 2026 onwards until further official notice," he confirmed.

For prospective hikers who have already secured e-tickets for travel via the Torean trail on or after 23 September, the TNGR Authority has provided options to adjust their travel arrangements.

Affected hikers may either reschedule their trip, or redirect their entry and exit points via alternative hiking trails until the Torean route is formally declared safe for public use again.

Hikers currently inside the Rinjani protected area who originally planned to exit via Torean are advised not to attempt using this closed route. TNGR field personnel will guide these hikers to exit via either the Sembalun or Senaru trails in accordance with real-time on-site conditions.

"We ask that all hikers comply with official instructions for their own safety and for the protection of the Mount Rinjani ecosystem," he added.

The TNGR Authority has requested all visitors refrain from entering the Torean trail for the full duration of the closure. This advisory forms part of efforts to reduce safety risks for visitors, while also allowing response teams unobstructed access to conduct fire management and monitoring operations in the affected zone.

"Please follow all guidance from field officers and do not force hiking activity attempts, for the safety of everyone," he stated.

Separately, multi-party fire response operations are currently underway. The TNGR Authority is coordinating with Indonesian National Armed Forces, National Police and all relevant stakeholders to manage the situation at Bukit Setampol.

"Initial suppression and fire containment works are being deployed with support from the Manggala Agni wildfire response unit and local Community Fire Care (MPA) volunteer teams," he noted.

Following the initial response deployment, round-the-clock fire condition monitoring remains active. On-site evaluations will continue to be conducted to verify the situation remains contained, and to mitigate risks of the fire spreading into adjacent areas.

"We are continuously reinforcing security patrols, protected area surveillance and access control measures to prevent additional fire risks," Budy stated.

This closure of the Torean trail serves as a reminder that all hiking activity on Mount Rinjani is entirely dependent on natural conditions and real-time on-site safety status. Hikers with pre-planned trips will need to implement temporary route adjustments until the TNGR Authority publishes further official updates regarding the Torean trail status.