Upper Austria

Valley trails are predominantly wide. As a rule, they have only a gentle incline and no sections that pose a risk of falling. Valley trails are generally not maintained by alpine clubs due to their proximity to the valley and their easy character.
Trails marked with a blue dot are easier trails and walking paths. They involve minor elevation gains where a good head for heights is not required.

Mountain trails are predominantly narrow, are often steep, and may include sections that pose a risk of falling. As the level of difficulty – and thus the classification – increases, the frequency of fall‑prone places rises, as does the frequency of secured hiking sections and/or easy climbing sections where hands are required.
Trails marked with a red dot are predominantly narrow, often steep, and may include sections that pose a risk of falling. They may also include short secured hiking sections.

Mountain trails are predominantly narrow, are often steep, and may include sections that pose a risk of falling. As the level of difficulty increases, the frequency of fall‑prone places rises, as does the frequency of secured hiking sections and/or easy climbing sections where hands are required.
Mountain trails marked with a black dot are narrow, often steep and exposed to a risk of falling. Secured sections and/or easy climbing passages where hands are needed occur frequently. Surefootedness is required; having a good head for heights is absolutely essential. 

These routes lead into open alpine and high‑alpine terrain and are not mountain trails in the sense described above. They may be visible on the ground as footprints created by frequent passage, but they may also be pathless. Alpine routes include exposed sections with a risk of slipping and falling, as well as unsecured hiking and climbing passages.
Their technical difficulty may significantly exceed that of difficult mountain trails (but may also be lower, for example in the case of an unmarked glacier crossing). Alpine routes are generally neither constructed nor maintained; therefore, you should not expect markings or signposts to aid with orientation. Alpine routes require absolute surefootedness and a good head for heights, good physical condition, excellent orientation skills, reliable terrain assessment, extensive alpine or even high‑alpine climbing and mountaineering experience, and familiarity with the necessary mountain and emergency equipment.

Source / Further information

Oberösterreich Tourismus (Hrsg.) (2022): Berg- und Wanderwegekonzept. Handlungsempfehlungen zur Konzeption und Beschilderung. - Linz. online: https://www.in-unserer-natur.at/fileadmin/user_upload/in-unserer-natur/Dokumente/Wander_und_Bergwegekonzept_2022_bearbeitet.pdf . 

Upper Austria Tourism, under the initiative “in unserer Natur”, is responsible for compiling and publishing the document. The content was developed jointly by the Austrian Alpine Club (Upper Austria regional association), Naturefriends Austria and Upper Austria Tourism. The document summarises fundamental definitions, assessment guidelines and design recommendations and serves as a guide for trail managers, municipalities and tourism organisations in Upper Austria.