Four status words with fixed meanings
Open requires a current authority, land manager or approved field record supporting normal access under stated conditions. Restricted means a real condition applies, such as hours, a fee, a permit, a route boundary or specialist support. Closed requires an authoritative closure. Unknown is the default whenever the evidence cannot support one of the other three.
- Open is not a safety guarantee.
- Restricted does not mean forbidden. Read the exact condition.
- Closed information appears before route inspiration.
- Unknown never quietly becomes Open because no closure was found.
An official listing is not a live feed
The National Parks and Conservation Service publishes named trails and durable route facts. That is strong evidence that a listed route exists. It does not necessarily confirm today's damage, closure, visibility or access at every entrance.
A guide therefore shows the claim each source supports and the date it was checked. Current status needs a status-specific source and review time.
- Trail name and official distance can be durable facts.
- Opening today is a time-sensitive fact.
- A weather model cannot supply access permission.
- A community report is a lead to investigate, not authority to reopen a route.
Route geometry and permission are separate
A GPX file, heatmap or visible footpath only describes geometry. It does not establish land ownership, a right of way or permission. This matters where several route variants share a popular place name but cross different parcels.
Hiking Mauritius will publish downloadable geometry only after its source, licence, version and access basis are recorded. Until then, a trail-area pin is deliberately less precise.
- Do not treat a commercial meeting point as a public trailhead.
- Do not follow a crowd through a gate as proof of permission.
- Ask which route variant and parcel an access statement covers.
- Recheck after storms, closures or land-management changes.
How to make the final check
Open the authority or manager link from the route page. Look for a dated notice, hours, booking conditions or closure information. If the page does not answer the current question, contact the manager using its official contact details.
Keep the result narrow. A confirmed opening does not establish weather suitability, and a clear forecast does not establish opening.
- Name the exact trail and approach.
- Ask whether the answer applies on your intended date.
- Save the source or contact response with its time.
- If the answer remains unclear, choose a route with confirmed access.