Partial reopening · 22 August 2026
Where to climb after the partial reopening?
Roughly 80% of the massif reopens on Saturday 22 August, but several zones remain prohibited: here are the open options and areas to avoid.
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80% of the massif is reopening
The reopening takes effect on Saturday 22 August 2026. Hatched zones remain prohibited, as do some areas covered by separate municipal decisions. For the area-by-area breakdown, see the access status of all 90 areas.
Apremont, Cuvier, Franchard, several Apremont sub-areas, La Commanderie and Corne-Biche join areas already open such as Buthiers, Beauvais, Le Puiselet and Petit Bois. Always check the detailed status and map before travelling.
Climbing near Paris: the open bouldering areas in the Île-de-France
All of these sandstone areas are within an hour of the southern Paris region — the most accessible alternative while the heart of Fontainebleau stays closed.
Buthiers – Malesherbes
The classic fallback, for every level
About fifteen minutes south-west of the Trois-Pignons, the Buthiers area is the most obvious fallback: circuits for every level, from world-class boulders to family-friendly beginner terrain, right next to the leisure park (easy parking, water points). It is the most complete venue outside the state forest.
Puiselet
Opening confirmed on 17 August
Above Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, Le Puiselet (Mont Sarrasin) offers a wilder, often quieter setting. Its opening was confirmed by the town hall on 17 August 2026. In summer, aim for the morning or late afternoon and follow on-site signs.
Around Nemours
Petit Bois, Darvault, Mont d’Olivet and Rocher Gréau open
Petit Bois is open, confirmed on 17 August 2026 by Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours town hall and by a climber on site. Mont d’Olivet reopened on 22 August: the Nemours communal forest is no longer covered by the new prefectural order, and the area lies outside the mapped prohibited zones. Darvault has been open since 1 September following the expiry of its municipal order. Rocher Gréau has also been open since 1 September, following local confirmation of its reopening.
Orsay satellite crags
La Troche and Toit d’Orsay are open
Some 40 km north of the forest, the small historic Orsay crags lie outside the fire area. The Essonne order expired on the evening of 16 August, and their opening was confirmed locally on 21 August 2026. Follow on-site signage.
Statuses synced with our area status page, based on the prefectural orders in force. On site, signage and local instructions take precedence.
And further afield? Bouldering in France doesn’t stop at Font
The closure comes at the height of summer — the season when Fontainebleau is crushed by heat anyway. It might be the excuse for the road trip you’ve been putting off for years: France has several major bouldering venues, often at altitude, perfect in July and August.
Ailefroide
Hautes-Alpes · granite · ~1,500 m
Often described as France’s second bouldering mecca after Font: hundreds of granite problems of every grade in the heart of the Écrins massif, a stone’s throw from the campsite, among larches and big alpine walls. At 1,500 m of altitude, it is THE summer venue.
Targasonne
Pyrénées-Orientales · granite · ~1,600 m
The granite chaos of the Cerdagne, made famous by the Targasonnic gathering. A high-altitude maze of boulders where you can climb in cool air even in mid-August, with the Catalan mountains as a backdrop.
Annot
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence · sandstone
Fontainebleau’s southern cousin: excellent orange sandstone in chestnut forests, between Digne-les-Bains and Nice. Boulders, slabs and cracks — the rock feel that will disorient homesick Font regulars the least.
Kerlouan
Finistère · granite · seaside
On Brittany’s Côte des Légendes, granite boulders sitting on white sand between the coves. The sea breeze replaces the heatwave, and you climb with your feet in turquoise water. The ultimate family-holiday-plus-bouldering combo.
Good to know: our crashpads can also be rented for trips away — no need to buy one for a week at Ailefroide.
Climb responsibly this summer
These areas remain open because they sit outside the order’s perimeter — not because the risk has gone away. The whole south of the Île-de-France region is at very high wildfire risk: a single spark could repeat what just happened to the Trois-Pignons.
- Zero flames: no stove, no cigarettes, no fire, anywhere.
- Park considerately: never block a track or fire-service access.
- Start early: sandstone climbs badly at 35 °C, and you’ll dodge the crowds displaced from the closed forest.
- Check before you go: a municipal order can close an area at short notice; the situation changes fast.
And as soon as an area of the forest officially reopens, it turns green on our reopening tracker page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you climb at Buthiers while Fontainebleau is closed?
Yes. The Canard, Piscine and Tennis areas are open, subject to local wildfire-risk instructions.
Where can you boulder near Paris during the closure?
From 22 August, many forest areas reopen, including Apremont, Cuvier, Franchard, several Apremont sub-areas, La Commanderie and Corne-Biche. Buthiers, Beauvais, Le Puiselet and Petit Bois are also open. Check the detailed status table before travelling.
Is climbing banned everywhere around Fontainebleau?
No. Roughly 80% of the massif reopened on 22 August, while the hatched zones on the official map remain prohibited. Near Nemours, Petit Bois, Darvault, Mont d’Olivet and Rocher Gréau are open.
Are Larchant, l’Éléphant or Dame Jouanne open?
Yes. Dame Jouanne, l’Éléphant and Maunoury reopen on Saturday 22 August 2026.
Where else can you boulder in France this summer, besides Fontainebleau?
France’s major bouldering venues are often far more pleasant than Font at the height of summer: Ailefroide (granite, ~1,500 m, in the Écrins), Targasonne (the granite chaos of the Cerdagne, ~1,600 m), Annot (orange sandstone between Digne and Nice) or Kerlouan in Brittany (seaside granite). Altitude or sea breeze keep climbing possible even in a heatwave.
What precautions should you take to climb this summer?
Wildfire risk remains very high across the whole south of the Île-de-France region: no flames or cigarettes, park without blocking fire-service access, start early to beat the heat and carry plenty of water. On site, signage and municipal instructions take precedence — a mayor can close an area at any time.
All that’s missing is the crashpad
CrashPad Tours rents out crashpads with no deposit, for pickup in and around Tours, France. Everything you need for your next session — in the Touraine or on a road trip.
See our crashpads