High commitment to
Security & infrastructure

Since the Kalkalpen National Park was founded and with financial support from the European Union, the federal government and the province of Upper Austria, many visitor facilities have been created by the national park administration and the national park operations of ÖBF AG. Plants, animals and fungi are primarily protected from humans in the National Park, but the international protected area should also be available for us humans to discover these natural treasures and to relax.
The Kalkalpen National Park is therefore accessible to visitors through a nature-friendly network of hiking, themed, cycling and riding trails. A large part of this infrastructure is thankfully maintained by the dedicated and voluntary staff of the alpine clubs. At the main access points to the national park, orientation aids, visitor guidance systems, support points, toilet facilities and traffic organization measures serve to inform and guide visitors and the national park administration is responsible for this.
"We have our hands full. We start the winterization work before the first snowfall. Then we renew and repair signage, benches, tables and information signs. The list of jobs is long, and if the National Park building yard were a commercial enterprise, we would probably be able to hold our own against the competition," says Kurt Buchner from the National Park. He is responsible for the building yard, where Christian Stadler, Karl Maderthaner and Ulli Ripfl are currently in peak season. They have resumed outdoor work now that the snow has melted. "After snowfalls, storms and rockfalls, there is a lot of damage and we want to have all the trails, visitor platforms, the Hintergebirgsradweg cycle path, the themed hiking trails, the Buchensteig, bivouac sites and parking lots up to scratch in time for the start of the hiking season," moan DI Hans Kammleitner from the Federal Forests and National Park Infrastructure Manager DI Roman Wiesinger. They have to ensure a proper and safe infrastructure in the national park on a small budget.

The Federal Forests guarantee forest road standards for the approved mountain bike routes. The Hintergebirgsradweg is the tourist jewel of the Hintergebirge. It is also designated as a family cycle trail. This requires a special status compared to other mountain bike routes. The tunnels are therefore lit with solar energy and are periodically scanned for loose stones. Dangerous entrance portals are secured with nets. Longer bridges and risky sections are equipped with railings. The adjacent danger zone is regularly inspected and rotten trees are removed. Bridges and road planning are constantly maintained and inspections are carried out after prolonged rainfall and thunderstorms.