Notices and Closures

Notices and closures provide important information along routes – for example, the condition of bike paths and hiking trails. They also alert users to closed areas, hazards, or obstacles. They can be enabled as an additional layer on all map views on the platform.

What is the difference?

Entries on current trail conditions are a valuable support for everyone who wants to plan their routes safely and efficiently. The more relevant information is provided, the more useful this tool becomes for the community. But what exactly is the difference between notices and closures?

Notices are used to draw attention to obstacles, detours, hazards, or news in a specific area. They are displayed for a set period of time, which can be defined manually.
Closures are entered by official authorities (e.g. a DMO or a protected area) to inform community users about closed trails or areas. These may be short-term (e.g. due to logging work) or long-term (e.g. complete trail renovation or a seasonal access restriction). They are displayed for a set period of time, which can be defined manually.

Note: With a Basic Business Account, you cannot create notices or closures. These features are only unlocked with a Pro or Pro+ Business Account.

View on the Outdooractive Platform
Notices and closures are displayed on the map view.

How to create notices and closures

Notices and closures are maintained by Outdooractive employees and tourism partners in the Trail Manager. In addition to point geometries, it is also possible to select trail sections and areas for the information. This means that large-scale closures can be covered without having to create multiple entries.

Geometry types: points, distances, areas

Use point markers by clicking on the button "Mark location" to document a blocked entrance or a broken bridge, for example. Switch to the "Location" tab, and click to place a point on the map.
Use route markers by clicking on the button "Select path", e.g. to document a section of path that is not accessible. Switch to the "Location" tab, select "Select path" and click to place several points on the map. Our routing system automatically searches for the best connection between the points on our trail network. Click to add new points, click and hold to move the individual points. This is how you define the route for your notice/closure.
Use area markings by clicking on the button "Mark area" to document a seasonal access ban, for example. Switch to the "Location" tab, select "Select area" and click to place several points on the map. These are connected by a blue line and are now the corner points of your area. Click to add new points and click and hold to move the individual points. This is how you define the area for your notice/blocking.

Automatic status change for route and area closures

When a route or area closure is published (not for point closures!), the following happens automatically:

All published routes within or adjacent to the affected area are automatically set to status “closed” by the system.
The authors of these affected routes receive a system-generated email containing:
- a notice about the closure
- the option to specifically ignore it for their route
- a link to immediately reset the route to status “open” if needed

This function prevents outdated information while still giving authors the ability to respond actively.

Visibility and recency

Each entry for notices or closures is assigned a specific validity date. Unlike current conditions, there is no automatic expiration mechanism. This means that entries must be manually deleted or adjusted when they are no longer relevant.

Documenting closures correctly

Trail closures mean that routes created on Outdooractive are automatically closed if they pass through the affected trail segment or area. To prevent incidental route closures, it’s crucial to map closures precisely. Pay special attention to the following points:

Only block the segment that’s actually affected.
Trails that remain passable must not be included in the closure. Even though the detour would make the route look illogical or like something a local would not choose.
Always place closure points outside of intersections!
Closures often start or end at intersections. It’s important not to place the start or end point in the middle of or on the opposite side of the intersection. A misplaced start point can unintentionally close routes that merely pass through the intersection without entering the closed segment. Simply put: the closure should start exactly where the barrier is located in the area.

View on Outdooractive My Business
Set the start or end point exactly where the barrier is located in nature (A). Don't set it in the middle or even beyond the intersection (B).

Link notices and closures

Existing notices and closures can be added to existing routes and POIs with just a few clicks. To do this, open the detail view of the notice or closure and enter the desired IDs in the 'Linked Content' tab. This connection cannot be created from the route or POI side.

How to create a detour

When entire routes or individual sections are closed, it's a good idea to set up a detour on-site. You can also record a detour in our system. To do this, create a Notice and link it to your Closure. You have two options:

Create a new entry in the "Notice" category in the Trail Manager. Publish it. Then open your closure and enter the Notice's ID under "Detours."
Open the detail page of your closure. On the "Settings" tab, click "Create detour." You'll be taken directly to the input form for a new Notice, which will automatically be linked to your Closure. Once you've published both entries, the detour will appear alongside the closure on the front end.

Closures are colored in red on the map, and detours in yellow

Good to know: Current Conditions

Current conditions are conceptually similar to notices and closures. These can be created by all platform users (including members of the community). They are intended to inform others about the current conditions on a route – but they lack the official status that notices and closures have. Current conditions are displayed for 2 weeks and then automatically archived.

Knowledge Page

Current Conditions

Here you can find information on how to create Current Conditions.

Outdooractive Editors