Fontainebleau forest reopens 80% of trails six weeks after July wildfires

Phased access across 18,000 hectares

Authorities in the Seine-et-Marne department authorized the partial reopening of the Fontainebleau forest on Saturday, 22 August 2026, six weeks after mid-July wildfires destroyed 2,000 hectares of the woodland in three days. The decision by the prefecture restores public access to 80% of the massif, encompassing 18,000 hectares of trails, rocks, and recreational sectors. Agents from the National Forests Office (ONF) unsealed several entry gates on Friday afternoon, 21 August, allowing walkers, runners, and nature enthusiasts to return. Residents living near the forest boundaries, such as Arbonne-la-Forêt resident Pia Mutti, welcomed the reopening after weeks of complete closure. Sophie David, head of the environment and public reception service at the ONF in Seine-et-Marne, explained the rationale behind the reopening.

Even though the forest remains dry, weather conditions have improved markedly, allowing us to reopen the forest to the public. However, in the burned area and along the perimeter, the sector remains strictly forbidden for safety reasons.

Security restrictions and underground hot spots

A restricted safety perimeter of approximately 4,000 hectares remains off-limits to the public, consisting of the 2,000 burned hectares alongside a 2,000-hectare buffer zone. Only emergency responders and forestry teams maintain access to this closed perimeter. Firefighters inspect the ground daily with thermal sensors calibrated to detect temperatures exceeding 65 degrees Celsius to locate hidden subterranean hot spots. Benoît Kaplan, deputy prefect, explained that the peaty nature of the soil, composed of sand and dried organic matter, allows fire to smoulder underground and resurface days or weeks after surface flames disappear. Authorities reiterated that visitors across all reopened areas must remain strictly on marked trails, with smoking, open fires, and barbecues prohibited throughout the forest.

Local economic relief and climbing sectors

The resumption of public access provides economic relief to municipalities across Seine-et-Marne that depend on the 15 million visitors travelling to the forest each year. Bouldering and climbing areas also reopened on Saturday, restoring access for outdoor athletes who generate slightly under 20 million euros in annual economic activity for the local economy. Julien Gondard, mayor of Fontainebleau, noted that the prolonged closure had disrupted summer commercial activity in surrounding villages and town centers.

We were waiting for this impatiently. That does not mean everything is resolved, as there are still fires smouldering, but we are very happy with the reopening, even a partial one.

Gondard urged visitors to respect the barricades surrounding closed parcels, noting that dead and damaged trees in those sectors continue to present falling risks.

Environmental damage and long-term recovery

The July fire destroyed 10% of the Fontainebleau massif, prompting the first deployment of Canadair water-bombing planes in the Île-de-France region. Repeated heatwaves had severely dried out the reserve, leaving broad swaths of vegetation with autumn-colored foliage in the middle of summer and creating hydric stress that leaves burned trees vulnerable to collapse. Although green shoots and ferns have begun emerging from the ash layer, ONF officials stated that the forest will require several decades to recover fully. Officials plan to reopen the remaining restricted zones gradually in successive phases as ground cooling and trail stabilization proceed.