Points Instead of Stamps: Digital Hiking Badges

25 September 2026

Post originally written in: Deutsch

Who doesn’t remember those little stamp books that were an absolute must-have on a hike? At many mountain huts, summit crosses, or other special hiking destinations, you could get a stamp and use it to document your own hike. And then you could even earn a gold, silver, or bronze hiking pin for it. For me, getting a stamp at a mountain hut and signing the summit log are part of the hiking experience. That’s why I find the idea of bringing this old tradition into the digital world all the more exciting. With the app SymmitLynx reimagines stamp collecting while hiking in the Innsbruck region.

The app for iOS and Android turns hiking into a little personal collecting adventure. In the Innsbruck region, there are numerous hiking destinations where you can collect points. There are a total of 274 peaks and 99 huts —and depending on the destination (trail length and difficulty), you earn different numbers of points. This means there’s something for every kind of hiking experience: from leisurely family hikes to more challenging summit treks.

The concept is simple: Download the app, choose a trail, and start hiking. The hiking destinations you reach are recorded in the app, and the points you earn are credited to your personal account.

Keep in mind: Each destination counts only once per run. So if you visit a destination multiple times, you can’t keep earning extra points over and over again. But there’s a great way to keep going in the long run: You can earn a badge multiple times. Once you’ve earned the required number of points for a badge, the count for that badge starts over from the beginning. This doesn’t affect the higher levels—points already earned for Bronze still count toward Silver and Gold.

Of course, I tried out “ SymmitLynx ” myself and earned my first points on three very different hikes: on the Oberhofer Höhenweg from the “ Kühtai ” to the “ Melkalm,” to the summit cross at the “ Sonnkarköpfl,” and together with my children to the reservoir at the “ Rangger Köpfl.” The app is actually quite easy to use.

Hiking destinations ranging from easy to difficult

It’s precisely the variety of destinations that shows me just how versatile the system is. It doesn’t always have to be a challenging hike. Even a stroll to an alpine pasture or an inn, or a scenic nature trail, can earn you points. At the same time, there are plenty of destinations for anyone who enjoys gaining elevation and discovering new peaks on a mountain hike.

During my hikes, it was definitely interesting to tackle the trails with an additional little goal in mind: How many points can I earn along the way? And how many points do I still need to earn to get the next badge?

You don't just collect points for your personal score. If you reach a certain number, you can earn one of a total of six badges. In addition to the classic hiking pins in bronze, silver, and gold, there are three other categories:

Bronze: 80 points
Silver: 120 points
Gold: 180 points
Culinary: 70 points
Power of Water: 60 points
Kids’ Hiking Badge: 4 points

This means there’s something for every kind of hiker.

The Power of Water

Water is one of the most impressive natural experiences in the mountains. The Innsbruck region offers a particularly wide variety of hikes to natural lakes, reservoirs, and impressive waterfalls. Anyone who wants to experience, feel, and hike through the power of water can earn points for doing so.

A total of 25 destinations are available for this badge. Those who reach 60 points are rewarded with the special “Power of Water” hiking badge.

Culinary Hiking Pin

Hiking works up an appetite—and around Innsbruck, a mountain hike can be wonderfully combined with a culinary break. The region’s traditional alpine huts not only offer unique views but also the chance to enjoy regional delicacies during a stop for refreshments.

There are a total of 59 destinations for the Culinary Hiking Pin. Anyone who collects 70 points is rewarded with the corresponding pin for their enjoyable hiking tours. For me, this is a wonderful combination: first hiking uphill and then enjoying a well-deserved specialty at an alpine hut.

Kids’ Hiking Badge

Young hiking fans are also well catered for at SymmitLynx. Families are especially welcome in the Innsbruck region—which is why there’s a dedicated Kids’ Hiking Badge.

You don’t have to climb difficult peaks to earn it. There are a total of 40 child-friendly destinations to choose from, including playgrounds, themed trails, and other exciting spots. The destinations are easy to reach but still offer little adventures and inspire a love of movement and exploring together.

With just four points, these young summit climbers can already earn their very own children’s hiking pin. I think it’s a wonderful idea, because it turns a hike into a little journey of discovery for children, complete with a tangible sense of achievement at the end.

The awards combine modern and traditional elements. The hiking pin is sent digitally along with a certificate. However, anyone who prefers to hold a physical pin in their hands—and perhaps even attach it to their backpack—can pick one up for free at the tourist information offices in the Innsbruck region.

I really like this combination: My smartphone accompanies me on the hike, the points are collected digitally—but in the end, there’s still something to pin on my backpack that reminds me of my own hikes.

For me, “ SymmitLynx ” doesn’t turn hiking into a competition; it just adds a little extra incentive to the hikes. Maybe the app will even lead me to a destination I wouldn’t have chosen otherwise. After all, with 274 peaks and 99 mountain huts, there’s certainly plenty to discover in the Innsbruck region.

In any case, I’ve already collected my first points. And now I’m curious to see how long it’ll take before I earn my first hiking pin. Because in the end, the most important thing remains the same: lacing up your hiking boots, heading out into nature, and discovering the mountains around Innsbruck. With “ SymmitLynx,” there’s now a little digital treasure hunt to top it all off.