Innovative nature trails
The Innotour program, which is funded by the federal government and the Swiss Parks Network, supports innovative "model projects" in the field of nature and cultural tourism. In 2025, the Erlebniswelt Roggen Erschmatt association and the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park submitted a project on the topic of "Innovative nature trails in a nature park" and received the necessary funding for its implementation.
There are countless nature trails; in Valais alone there are more than 290 (as of 2025). Unfortunately, many of them lose their appeal over time. The question therefore arises as to how a nature trail can be designed in an innovative and sustainable way today and at the same time sensitize visitors to the diverse natural treasures of a nature park. This report provides answers to this question. Following a literature review and a survey among the partners, a method entitled "IDEFIX - a clear structure for inspiring and surprising trails" was developed on the basis of an analysis of nature trails that have been rated as exemplary.
This method does not seek to reinvent the wheel. It is primarily aimed at structuring the considerations for designing an educational trail and proposing approaches for integrating an innovative dimension in each phase. The aim is to design an educational trail that meets the expectations of the various stakeholders (public, clients, municipalities, etc.) while offering real added value in terms of innovation. In the last part of the report, the method was tested on the "Floraweg" project planned on the Zälg agricultural terraces in Erschmatt. The Erlebniswelt Roggen Erschmatt association would like to create a themed trail on the flora of field flowers, i.e. the accompanying flora of cultivated plants.