German Hiking Association (DWV)

The Deutscher Wanderverband (DWV), formally the Verband Deutscher Gebirgs- und Wandervereine, is the umbrella association of regional mountain and hiking clubs in Germany. According to its official pages, it represents its member organizations toward politics and authorities as a specialist association for hiking and trails, and it issues guidelines for the marking of hiking trails. Its member clubs offer guided hikes, maintain trails and hiking hostels, publish hiking literature and maps, engage in regional culture and nature conservation, and are represented among young people by its youth organization, the Deutsche Wanderjugend.

The Deutscher Wanderverband (DWV) is the umbrella association of regional mountain and hiking clubs in Germany. Its official homepage states that it has been an important actor in the dialogue between nature users and nature conservationists for 140 years. Its 'Über Uns' page describes it as the umbrella association of 57 regional member organizations (as of January 2022) with around 450,000 members in more than 3,000 local groups. The DWV represents the German mountain and hiking clubs at a supra-regional level and sees itself as the representation of the interests of all hikers. It is a member of various nationwide organizations and bodies, for example the Deutscher Tourismusverband, the Verband Deutscher Naturparke and the Deutscher Naturschutzring. It ensures quality in hiking and issues guidelines for the marking of hiking trails.

Umbrella and specialist association for hiking and trails in Germany, representing member interests toward politics and authorities.

1. 1Startseitewanderverband.de
2. 2Über Unswanderverband.de
3. 3Die Naturwunderwahl 2026 startetwanderverband.de