What is a nature park

Valuable natural and cultural landscapes

Bio-diversity & significant communities

Nature parks are valuable natural and cultural landscapes that can be decreed as protected areas by nature conservation departments of the federal states. They offer a unique and special diversity of landscapes, which are characterized by an interesting wealth of animal and plant species as well as significant biotic communities. In addition to natural landscapes, cultural landscapes that have been shaped by the interaction of man and nature over time are maintained and preserved.


Five nature parks are currently officially recognized in the province of Tyrol. The designation nature park is a distinction - a predicate - for a protected area and therefore does not represent a protection category of its own.
The Tyrolean Nature Conservation Act 2005 describes a nature park in paragraph 12 as follows:
"The provincial government may declare generally accessible landscape protection areas, rest areas, nature conservation areas and special protection areas or parts thereof, which are particularly suitable for outdoor recreation or for imparting knowledge about nature and which are appropriately designed and maintained for this purpose, to be nature parks by ordinance."

The Austrian nature parks

Nature conservation, education and recreation

The existence and further development of these protected landscape areas is an important concern of the48 Austrian nature parks (as of 05.03.2014; www.naturparke.at). According to the Association of Nature Parks in Austria, these nature parks cover a total area of around 500,000 hectares throughout Austria (as of 05.03.2014; www.naturparke.at).

The Association of Nature Parks of Austria (VNÖ) describes a nature park as follows:
"A nature park is a protected landscape area that has arisen from the interaction of man and nature. Often these are landscape areas that have taken on their present form over the course of centuries and are to be preserved by the people who live and farm here through gentle forms of land use and landscape conservation. In the nature park, this cultural landscape of special aesthetic appeal is made accessible to visitors through special facilities and made accessible as a recreational area."

These statements already include three important functions of a nature park - nature conservation, education and recreation. A fourth important task field is regional development. However, the nature parks in Tyrol have expanded their tasks, so that now five pillars support the Tyrolean nature parks.

The five pillars

Rules of conduct

for a nature-compatible coexistence

The Tyrolean Lech Nature Park is a piece of breathtaking nature with impressive landscapes and invites you to relax and discover. Let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of the wild river landscape and find peace and relaxation during a hike through the unique nature! The nature at the Tyrolean Lech is very valuable and under protection, therefore we ask you to (act) environmentally friendly and nature-friendly and to take the following requests with you on your way:

carry in - carry out

Please do not leave waste in nature and dispose of your waste properly. This way you contribute to intact ecosystems and food chains, free from contaminants such as pollutants, microplastics, etc.

Protection of animals and plants

In the nature park animals and plants are under protection. Therefore, please do not remove natural materials, animals, mushrooms and plants. Thus, the diversity and natural beauty remains a pleasure for all visitors to the area.

Camping and storage

Please use the designated camping sites in Reutte, Vorderhornbach and Häselgehr. Camping and camping of any kind are prohibited.

Nature without engines

Please observe all no-driving signs and avoid operating motorized vehicles off public roads. Use public transportation whenever possible!

Fire making only in designated areas

Campfires are not allowed in the protected area. Open fire is a source of danger for people and nature, please use the designated barbecue areas available for this nature experience.

Dogs on a leash

Dogs must be kept on a leash throughout the protected area. In this way, please avoid disturbing the endangered and protected nature, which dogs perceive as natural enemies.

Listen, not make noise

Enjoy the peace and soothing sounds of nature and avoid unnecessary noise. In this way you will be considerate of other recreationists and wildlife.

Use marked paths

Please stay on the marked trails!

No flying machines

Flying over the protected area with aircraft such as drones is not permitted without an official exemption.

Please do not enter the gravel banks during the breeding season from the end of April to mid-August!
In this way, contribute to the protection of ground-nesting birds such as sandpipers and little ringed plovers. People and dogs are among the biggest disturbance factors for the protected bird species.

Thank you very much!