Mount Lawu Hiking Trails Shut as Forest Fire Expands

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Raging forest fires have forcibly closed the hiking trails of Mount Lawu through Cemoro Kandang and Cetho in the Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, starting from September 14, 2026. The Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Karanganyar Regency, Sugiharjo, said the fire has spread in the North Lawu Forest Unit, covering Magetan and Ngawi Regencies, East Java.

"We are coordinating with the managers, volunteers, and the public to prevent anyone from daring to hike," said Sugiharjo when contacted by Tempo on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

The hiking trails will be closed indefinitely. 

The closure of the Cemoro Kandang and Cetho hiking access was previously announced by the regional public company, Aneka Usaha, through a circular numbered 039/GL.CK.01/PUD-AU/IX/2026 dated September 14, 2026. The management entity of the hiking gate earlier announced that the forest area of Mount Lawu was not safe to pass through.

Besides Cemoro Kandang and Cetho, the hiking trail of Mount Lawu through Cemoro Sewu in Magetan Regency is also temporarily closed starting from September 14, 2026. The announcement was made separately through a circular numbered 0477/043.7/LWU/2026.

"The joint officers and volunteer teams will focus on combating the fire, monitoring the conditions, and clearing the trails during the temporary closure," the circular read.

The Assistant of Perhutani in the North Lawu Forest Management Unit, Surakarta Forestry Management Unit, Hisyam Zulfikar, mentioned that several other entries to Mount Lawu are shut down, including the entry through Tambak and Segorogunung, Ngargoyoso Subdistrict, as well as Babar, Jenawi Subdistrict, Karanganyar Regency.