Waldwege

Waldwege are roads and paths through forests used to access forest stands for management and timber extraction, and to support recreation and other forest uses. The term covers a spectrum of routes, from narrow earth trails to wider, vehicle-accessible routes designed for forestry operations. In many regions, forest roads built for forestry work are called Forstwege or Forstwirtschaftswege and are primarily intended to allow heavy machinery and transport between timber stations. Waldwege, by contrast, are typically narrower routes suitable for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding, and are often marked as public or municipal forest trails.

Surfaces range from compacted earth and gravel to asphalt in some heavily used areas. Maintenance is usually carried out by forest authorities or the local municipality, including drainage, segmenting routes for shared use, and signage indicating permitted activities and possible seasonal closures for soil protection, hunting seasons, or forest operations. Access rights vary by jurisdiction; some Waldwege are public and open to pedestrians by default, while others lie on private forest land and require permission or are restricted during certain periods.

Waldwege play a role in timber production, fire prevention, and wildlife management, but also serve recreation and ecotourism. They connect forest compartments, support forest management logistics, and can act as ecological corridors by linking habitats, while requiring care to minimize erosion and disturbance.