Outdoor sports trail networks
How is the trail network created?
We all love benefitting from a well-maintained and properly signposted trail network. Before such a network can be established, a plan must be drawn up and agreed upon by destination representatives, operators and planning offices as well as property owners and specialist associations.
Trails only become part of an official network if:
- they are suitable for such use based on professional and official consensus.
- there has been all due legal consideration and they have been released by the property owner.
- their use for certain activities does not have an impact on nature conservation.
- their quality provides the best experience to the users.
- they makes sense for purposes of local tourism.
Signposting the trail network
Once all parties have agreed on the trail network, it needs to be signposted.
As a general rule, the first network to be created is for hiking. This is because it also serves as the basis for other pedestrian activities such as jogging, trail running, Nordic walking, winter hiking or mountaineering.
If other activities (, e.g. cycling or horse riding) are added, the existing network needs to be expanded to include new routes so that no conflicts arise.
Trail networks are going digital
The digital trail network is the complete, virtual image of all signposted routes.
In order to be as accurate as possible when creating our maps and trail networks, we rely on geographic data from official authorities and work closely with our local tourism partners.
The trail networks for individual activities (hiking, biking, mountain biking, winter sports or horse riding) are compiled as a subset of the overall network in a region to provide the user with relevant information they might need for their particular activity.
