Why DNA Trails?

DNA Trails started in May 2023 with a small group of Dutch and German expats who deeply valued the power of sport to bring people together. We knew firsthand how much sport had helped us connect after moving to Innsbruck — and we noticed that while the city had athletes everywhere, there weren’t many accessible sport communities yet, especially not for trail running.

What began as a few casual Thursday runs quickly grew. After we started posting on Instagram in the summer of 2023, more and more people joined — sometimes we had over 50 runners showing up. The name DNA Trails reflects what we believe: that the urge to run in the mountains lives in our DNA, and that DNA connects us all.

What we believe in

At the heart of DNA Trails is a simple idea: trail running should be welcoming, free, and fun. We believe a strong community doesn’t require sign-up forms, club fees, or performance goals — just open trails, kind people, and shared footsteps.

• Free & inclusive — Always free, and everyone is welcome.
• Bilingual by default — English is our shared language to include everyone.
• Leave no one behind — We always run in groups and make sure nobody is alone.
• No pressure — Skip a week. Join last-minute. Show up and smile.

Want to help shape the future?

Our community is run by volunteers. We welcome new guides, ideas for workshops, co-hosts for events, or even fun Instagram takeovers. If you’d like to contribute — big or small — we’d love to hear from you.