Editor guide

This page explains how you record a trail on localtrails.ch as an editor — from creating it to the photos. You receive an account personally from us if you look after trails for an organisation (here is how to get in touch); sign in at /admin.

One minute in the editor

This is what it looks like once you are signed in: the same intro new editors see at their first login — on the real map, at a real place.

Creating a trail

On the map, click "New trail" and enter a name — the trail page's address (its "slug") is derived from it automatically. An existing trail is opened with "Edit"; changes take effect only when you press "Save", and "Cancel" discards them.

Drawing segments

A trail is a chain of segments. Start a segment with "+" and click point by point onto the path network — the line follows the network automatically; hold Shift to draw freely. The drawing direction is the trail's riding direction. New segments start at the end of the chain, keeping the trail gapless. The ? symbol in the editor explains every tool in detail.

Rating

Give every trail segment a grade on the official Swiss scale. The trail's own grade follows automatically — it is the hardest of its trail segments. The criteria below come from the implementation guidance "Mountainbike-Wegnetzplanung" by the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) and SchweizMobil (2026) — the same rules trails are signposted by on the ground.

If the trail already carries an official sign with colour and symbol, use that grade. Otherwise grade it yourself — ideally after riding it.

How to grade

  • In the riding direction. Grade in the direction you drew the trail. If it is ridden both ways, the descent counts.
  • The main line counts. What matters is the line riders take intuitively. Harder options beside it don't raise the grade — mention them in the description.
  • The whole picture, but limits are limits. You judge the segment as a whole. But if a step, ramp or corner on the main line exceeds a grade's limits and can't be bypassed, that grade no longer fits.
  • Clustered obstacles count for more. If several obstacles come in quick succession, consider the next grade up — even if each on its own fits a lower one.
  • Exposure is part of it. A singletrail with an unsecured drop-off is at least "medium".
  • In usual weather. Grade for the conditions usual at the place. Wet, snow or extreme dryness don't go into the grade — if they make the trail tricky, say so in the description.
  • Split rather than average. If the character changes clearly — a rocky section after flowing forest, say — make it a segment of its own. The elevation profile on the trail page then shows both grades, and the trail takes the higher one.
  • When in doubt, go higher. The scale exists to keep riders off trails that are too hard for them. If a segment sits between two grades, pick the higher.
  • Don't translate from OpenStreetMap. The Singletrail-Skala (S0–S5, "mtb:scale" in OSM) measures something else: technique only, passage by passage, in ideal conditions and ignoring exposure. It is a hint at most — grade by the criteria below.

The five grades

Criteria for singletrails and tech trails, which is most trails here. The figures apply to the main line, measured downhill: avg is the average gradient, ramps are steeper stretches 5 to 20 m long, steps are steps and ledges.

  • Very easy

    For newcomers. Rideable seated all the way, no particular technique needed.

    Wide and mostly flat, follows the terrain, sweeping corners. Evenly compacted and grippy, rollable throughout — even on a kid's bike. No drop-offs, or secured ones.

    avg ≤ 6% · ramps ≤ 15% · steps ≤ 10 cm · width ≥ 1.0 m · corner radius ≥ 3 m

  • Easy

    For beginners: standing, active position, controlled braking, safe through easy corners.

    Wide and gently sloping, corners of constant radius. Small roots and stones. The main line is rollable throughout. No drop-offs, or secured ones.

    avg ≤ 10% · ramps ≤ 30% · steps ≤ 15 cm (up to 40 cm if bypassable) · width ≥ 0.8 m · corner radius ≥ 2 m

  • Medium

    For intermediates: shift your weight, lift the front and rear wheel, ride tight corners even slowly.

    Possibly narrow, moderately steep. Steep stretches with big roots and loose stones, bigger steps, tighter corners. On singletrails, expect unsecured drop-offs.

    avg ≤ 20% · ramps ≤ 60% · steps ≤ 40 cm (higher ones usually bypassable) · width ≥ 0.6 m · corner radius ≥ 1 m

  • Difficult

    For skilled riders: ride extremely steep stretches, reposition the front or rear wheel, drop or jump obstacles.

    Possibly very narrow, rather steep, partly down the fall line. Blocked with roots, stones and rock, big steps and tight switchbacks — usually with no bypass.

    avg ≤ 30% · ramps ≤ 90%

  • Very difficult

    For expert riders with exceptional technique.

    Very steep and down the fall line, blocked and demanding, very big steps, many tight, steep switchbacks with little room.

    No limits — everything beyond "difficult".

Style trails: jumps and drops

Built bike trails are graded by their features, above all the fall height. If a trail mixes tech and style features, the higher grade applies.

  • Very easy: Built features with no fall height (under 10 cm), single sweeping berms.
  • Easy: Rollable, easy features, drops up to 0.5 m, jumps up to 4.5 m long.
  • Medium: Jumps and drops up to 1 m fall height, jumps up to 9 m long, tight berms.
  • Difficult: Big jumps and drops up to 1.5 m fall height, jumps up to 13.5 m long, tight and steep berms.
  • Very difficult: Fall height over 1.5 m.

Which kind of trail?

The kind goes on the sign too; you set it on the trail. Singletrail: a narrow natural path, often shared with walkers, nothing built — the usual case. Tech trail: bikes only, defined by roots and rock fields. Style trail: wider, bikes only, with built jumps, berms and wooden features. At "very easy" the distinction doesn't matter.

The limits are an orientation aid, not a measuring rule: for official signposting, an independent expert decides on the whole picture. Our grades are a careful estimate, not signage.

Photos

Once the trail is saved you can upload photos. Pictures of the trail itself — corners, key sections, views — help the most.

Legal

By saving you grant localtrails.ch the right to publish your contributions — names, descriptions, ratings and photos — on the platform. The trail geometry is derived from the OpenStreetMap path network and is published under the Open Database License (ODbL); all other content remains with the project.

Questions?

Get in touch with Marc directly — reports of stumbling blocks are explicitly welcome.