Frequently asked questions
Short answers to what people ask most often before their first loop.
What is Scórtol?
A free online generator of circular hiking routes. Instead of drawing a track by hand, you set a start point, a distance and an amount of climbing, and Scórtol proposes several loops that return to your start.
Is it free?
Yes. Scórtol is free to use, with no account required and no ads.
What areas are covered?
The Alps across Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and France. The covered area is highlighted on the map; see the Regions page for the main massifs within reach.
Are the routes circular?
Yes — every route is a loop that starts and finishes at the same point, so you can leave from and return to the same car park, hut or station.
Can I control distance and elevation gain?
Yes. You set a target distance (2–50 km) and a target ascent (0–3000 m), and choose whether distance, ascent or a balance of both is the priority.
Can I download a GPX track?
Yes. Every generated route can be exported as a GPX file for GPS watches, phone apps and navigation devices.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Scórtol runs in the browser on desktop and mobile. There is nothing to install.
How are the routes generated?
Scórtol uses OpenStreetMap trail data combined with real elevation to walk the actual path network, preferring trails, reaching for nearby summits when the climbing budget allows, and returning several distinct options.
Are the routes safe to follow?
Scórtol is a planning aid, not a guarantee of trail conditions. Always check the weather, your own fitness, trail difficulty and current conditions, and carry proper navigation and equipment in the mountains.
Ready for your next loop?
Drop a start point on the map and let Scórtol do the planning.
Open the map