Fontainebleau forest reopens after major wildfire

For anyone who dreams of bouldering in Fontainebleau, there is important news: after the major July fire that destroyed more than 2,000 hectares of the UNESCO biosphere reserve about 70 km southeast of Paris, 18,000 of the area's roughly 22,000 hectares have been open again since 22 August 2026.

Fontainebleau is home to one of the most important bouldering areas in the world. About 10 percent of the total area burned, and even areas not directly hit are still struggling, because several heatwaves have left the forest more vulnerable than ever.

On 18 August, the Respect Bleau collective brought together climbers, clubs, forest stakeholders and local authorities to discuss the situation. Five weeks after the fire broke out, 900 firefighters were still deployed during the day and 500 at night. The forest floor is still smouldering as peat fire, and in some zones the ground temperature reaches 400 degrees.

That is why the burned areas remain closed. Do not enter areas marked by signs. The roots of burned trees are unstable, and trees can fall long after the fire. The Women's Bouldering Festival is postponed indefinitely; only the route-setting workshops will take place in London in September.

To me the message is clear: access is not a free pass. Anyone who goes should respect the closures and take care with fire risk.

Source: kletterszene.com