Chania closes Samaria Gorge again on Saturday amid category 5 wildfire risk
Samaria Gorge will remain closed to visitors on Saturday, August 29, 2026, after the Regional Unit of Chania placed the area under category 5, the highest wildfire risk level, corresponding to a state of alert.
According to an announcement from the Regional Unit of Chania, the closure is a precautionary measure taken to protect the National Park and the people who visit it. The decision was made by the responsible deputy regional governor, citing a decree (ADA: Ψ0ΚΖ7ΛΚ-ΧΕΑ) dated April 30, 2026, which bans passage, presence and movement of people and vehicles in high-protection forest ecosystems located in high-risk wildfire areas.
What the announcement says
The ban also covers NATURA-protected areas, forest ecosystems, parks, groves and other sensitive locations across the Regional Unit of Chania. Officials did not specify a reopening date, and the closure applies specifically to Saturday, August 29.
The closure of the gorge comes amid a broader wildfire alert affecting the wider region. Crete faces category 5 wildfire risk on Saturday, prompting authorities to shut a number of forests and gorges beyond Samaria as a preventive step. Similar measures were already in place earlier in the week, when authorities closed forests, gorges and trails across Crete under a “Red Code” wildfire alert.
Samaria Gorge, part of Greece’s oldest National Park in the Lefka Ori mountains, has drawn strong visitor numbers this season; earlier reporting noted the trail had welcomed over 64,000 visitors in the first 100 days of the 2026 season. Travelers planning to hike any of Crete’s gorges are advised to check official wildfire risk updates before setting out; more listings are available on the Gorges in Crete hub page.
