The Association
We promote trails for a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, trail running, cycling, mountaineering, winter sports, and water based activities. Trails can be naturally surfaced, paved, marked or not unmarked, inside or outside urban areas and include greenways and low carbon transportation routes.
European Trails represents the European chapter of the World Trails Network (WTN). Membership automatically includes full membership in the WTN. We are also an official environmental partner of 1% for the Planet.
Our vision is that all people in Europe are using great trails.
European Trails Vision
European Trails
Mission
We unite all relevant stakeholders in the trail sector to speak with one voice. We create and share knowledge, establish standards, and unlock financing opportunities.
We empower trail organizations to build sustainable structures, collaborate effectively, and promote their trails across Europe and beyond.
Our vision is that all people in Europe are using great trails.
European Trails Vision
Our vision is that all people in Europe are using great trails.
European Trails Vision
European Trails
Mission
We unite all relevant stakeholders in the trail sector to speak with one voice. We create and share knowledge, establish standards, and unlock financing opportunities.
We empower trail organizations to build sustainable structures, collaborate effectively, and promote their trails across Europe and beyond.
European Trails
Mission
We unite all relevant stakeholders in the trail sector to speak with one voice. We create and share knowledge, establish standards, and unlock financing opportunities. We empower trail organizations to build sustainable structures, collaborate effectively, and promote their trails across Europe and beyond.
European Trails
Goals
Make the trails in Europe speak with ONE strong voice by uniting trail management organizations, regardless of their outdoor activity.
Collect and create knowledge and share it among all trail sector stakeholders.
Improve funding possibilities, including lobbying & advocacy for increased financial support at European level.
Foster trail use.
Establish a standard for classifications of trails that all existing standards can be related/translated to, so that users can make informed decisions.
Establish standards for the certification of trails.
Support trail organizations.
Improve the management and quality of trails.
Grant our members full membership in the World Trails Network.
European Trails
Goals
Make the trails in Europe speak with ONE strong voice by uniting trail management organizations, regardless of their outdoor activity.
Collect and create knowledge and share it among all trail sector stakeholders.
Improve funding possibilities, including lobbying & advocacy for increased financial support at European level.
Foster trail use.
Establish a standard for classifications of trails that all existing standards can be related/translated to, so that users can make informed decisions.
Establish standards for the certification of trails.
Support trail organizations.
Improve the management and quality of trails.
Grant our members full membership in the World Trails Network.
European Trails
Our History
2012
Founding of the World Trails Network (WTN) at the 3rd World Trails Conference (WTC) in Korea
2014
Establishment of the Asian Hub and the Hub for the Americas
2023
Initiation of the European Chapter by Hartmut Wimmer at an event organized by the Königswinterer Kreis at the CMT Fair (Caravan, Motor, and Tourism)
2025
Formal establishment of the association European Trails e.V. in February 2025
European Trails
Team / Board
Hartmut Wimmer
Germany
Chairman of the Board
As passionate outdoor enthusiast and explorer, Hartmut Wimmer serves as the first Chairman of the Board and is dedicated to addressing the challenges of trail management in Europe and beyond. After running his own engineering firm Hartmut Wimmer focused on tourism infrastructure, where challenges in tour planning inspired him to seek a standardized digital solution. This idea led to the founding of Outdooractive in 2008, driven by his ambition to build the world’s leading outdoor platform and create a virtual home for nature enthusiasts. Driven by a strong sense of purpose, he also founded the non-profit organizations Digitize the Planet and European Trails and serves on the board of the World Trails Network.
Dr. Mischa Crumbach
Switzerland
Board Member
Mischa serves as the second Chairperson of European Trails, contributing strategic
leadership and having a deep understanding of trail systems across Europe. He is a Strategy and Pricing Consultant and manages the International Trail Rating System (ITRS), supporting the development of sustainable and accessible trail networks. With additional expertise as a mountain bike guide and mineral photographer, Mischa combines analytical insight with a strong connection to nature.
Elsi Rizvanolli
Netherlands
Treasurer
As Treasurer of European Trails, Elsi Rizvanolli brings extensive financial expertise and a strong commitment to sustainability to the organization. The senior fundraising consultant with extensive work experience in Europe, North America and Asia supports nonprofits and universities in achieving their goals through strategic fundraising. He is a board member of the World Trails Network and co-founder of Tirana Trails, a project to map and promote a network of trails around the city of Tirana.
European Trails
Team / Association Manager
Julia Snajdr
Germany
As Association Manager Julia Snajdr has built her career around managing socio-ecological projects, stakeholder engagement, visual documentation and EU project management & funding. She brings with her work experience from various countries – Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Mexico, and Portugal – and is passionately building our European organization. As a nature lover, she can hardly imagine a world without trails winding through beautiful landscapes.