What is a nature park

Valuable natural and cultural landscapes

Bio-diversity & significant communities

Nature parks are valuable Natural and cultural landscapes, which are used by nature conservation departments of the federal provinces as Protected areas can be prescribed. They offer a unique and special landscape diversity, which is characterised by an interesting wealth of Animal and plant species as well as significant Living communities are distinguished. In addition to natural landscapes, cultural landscapes that have been shaped by the interaction of man and nature over time are maintained and preserved.


At Federal State Tyrol are currently Five nature parks officially recognised. The designation nature park is a distinction - a predicate - for a protected area and therefore does not represent a separate protection category.
The Tyrolean Nature Conservation Act 2005 describes a nature park in paragraph 12 as follows:
"The Land Government may declare by ordinance landscape protection areas, rest areas, nature conservation areas and special protection areas or parts thereof which are accessible to the general public, are particularly suitable for outdoor recreation or for imparting knowledge about nature and are suitably designed and maintained for this purpose as nature parks."

The Austrian Nature Parks

Nature conservation, education and recreation

The existence and further development of these protected landscape areas is an important concern of the 48 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 ha (as of 05.03.2014; www.naturparke.at).

The Association of Nature Parks in Austria (VNÖ) describes a nature park as follows:
"A nature park is a protected landscape area that has developed 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 work here through gentle forms of land use and landscape conservation. In the nature park, this cultural landscape of particular aesthetic appeal is made accessible to visitors through special facilities and made accessible as a recreational area."

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

The five pillars

Rules of conduct

for a nature-friendly 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 on a hike through the unique nature! The nature at the Tyrolean Lech is very valuable and under protection, therefore we ask you to act in an environmentally friendly and nature-friendly way 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. In this way you contribute to intact ecosystems and food chains, free from contaminants such as pollutants, microplastics, etc.

Protection of animals and plants

Animals and plants are protected in the nature park. Therefore, please do not take any natural materials, animals, mushrooms and plants. This way, the diversity and natural beauty remains a pleasure for all area visitors.

Camping and storage

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

Nature without motors

Please observe all no-driving signs and avoid operating motorised vehicles off public roads. Use public transport if possible!

Lighting fires only in designated areas

Campfires are not allowed in the protected area. Open fires are 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. Please thus avoid disturbing the endangered and protected nature, which dogs perceive as natural enemies.

Listening, not making noise

Enjoy the peace and soothing sounds of nature and avoid unnecessary noise. This way you show consideration for other recreationists and for 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 ringed plovers. People and dogs are among the biggest disturbance factors for the protected bird species.

Thank you very much!