Lombok, Indonesia: The Senaru hiking route to Mount Rinjani in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara province has reopened after authorities completed firefighting operations and carried out safety assessments following a forest fire in the area.

The route had been temporarily closed after fires affected parts of Mount Rinjani National Park. Officials reopened the Senaru trail after confirming that the active fire had been extinguished and checking hiking facilities and infrastructure.

The reopening took effect on October 3, allowing visitors to once again use Senaru as an access route to the popular mountain destination. Hikers are required to complete registration through the official eRinjani system before beginning their journey.

The decision followed a joint evaluation involving park officials and other relevant agencies. Authorities focused on ensuring that conditions along the trail were suitable for visitors following the fire and that remaining risks were being monitored.

The forest fire had affected vegetation in parts of the national park, including shrubs, grassland, dry leaves and other ground vegetation. Officials said monitoring would continue even after the route reopened.

According to the Mount Rinjani National Park authorities, the affected area was estimated at about 1,098.75 hectares based on monitoring through September 29. The figure remains an estimate and could be revised following additional field inspections, drone observations and verification of the affected boundaries.

Officials have also continued aerial monitoring of the affected areas. Remaining burned trees and isolated embers have been watched closely to reduce the possibility of a new fire developing.

The reopening of Senaru means five hiking routes in Mount Rinjani National Park are operating again: Sembalun, Senaru, Tibanuh, Tetebatu and Aik Berik.

However, the reopening does not mean that every part of the affected area has returned to normal. Authorities are continuing patrols and monitoring activities, particularly in locations affected by the recent fire.

The fire originally developed in the Bukit Setampol area of the Torean Resort section of Mount Rinjani National Park. Firefighters worked for several days to prevent the flames from spreading through dry vegetation and mountainous terrain.

The Torean route has remained subject to separate restrictions while authorities assess conditions there. This means hikers planning trips to Rinjani need to check the current route status before travelling.

Mount Rinjani is one of Indonesia’s best-known hiking destinations and attracts visitors from across the country and overseas. The reopening of the Senaru route is therefore significant for local tourism businesses, guides, accommodation providers and communities that depend on visitors to the national park.

Authorities have urged hikers to follow instructions from park personnel and comply with safety requirements. Visitors are also expected to avoid creating new fire risks in the national park.

The continued monitoring is intended to ensure that reopening the trail does not create additional risks for visitors or the surrounding environment.

For the local tourism sector, the reopening provides an opportunity for hiking activity to resume after the temporary disruption caused by the forest fire. At the same time, park officials face the task of protecting the recovering landscape while managing renewed visitor activity.