In today’s competitive tourism and recreation landscape, creating standout experiences that connect visitors with nature while ensuring safety has become essential. The remarkable “Senda dil Dragun” (Dragon Path) in Laax, Switzerland showcases how innovative architectural solutions can create truly extraordinary experiences—offering valuable insights for US developers, architects, and recreation planners.

Project Overview: A Floating Path Through the Forest

The Senda dil Dragun represents a groundbreaking achievement in elevated walkway design. Extending 1.56 kilometers through mountain forest, this extraordinary structure maintains continuous elevation above the forest floor, supported entirely on stilts. Unlike many treetop paths that periodically touch ground, this “dragon path” creates a genuine floating sensation throughout its route.

Visitors experience the forest from varying perspectives, with the path reaching heights up to 28 meters above ground. The journey offers intimate encounters with spruce, fir, and pine trees—sometimes at eye level with the forest canopy, other times just above the forest floor where young trees and ferns create a different ecosystem. Two signature towers, standing 37 and 27 meters tall, mark the endpoints of this remarkable journey through nature.

The Design Challenge and Solution

For the project architects, creating a path that honored the forest while ensuring visitor safety presented significant challenges. The design needed to follow natural contours while minimizing impact on existing trees. Most importantly, the safety elements could not detract from the immersive forest experience.

Jakob Rope Systems was engaged to provide a transparent, lightweight, and high-quality fall protection solution. Our Webnet stainless steel mesh offered the ideal combination of structural integrity and visual discretion. The material’s filigree structure provides exceptional tensioning force while maintaining the flexibility needed to adapt to the organic path layout.

The weatherproof qualities of marine-grade stainless steel ensure year-round performance through all seasons with minimal maintenance requirements. For a forest installation subject to varying environmental conditions, this resilience was a critical consideration.

Technical Excellence at Scale

The scope of this project demonstrates Jakob’s capability to execute large-scale installations with precision engineering. The implementation incorporated over 3,000 square meters of Webnet with 1.5mm rope diameter and 40mm mesh aperture. The installation required more than 25,000 meters of binding rope, with individual Webnet sections spanning up to 60 meters.

Integration with round tube frame constructions provided the structural support necessary while maintaining the aesthetic quality of the installation. Special attention was given to winter conditions, with protective skirting boards installed along railings to prevent damage during snow clearing operations.

The installation process involved over 120 assembly days on site, with Jakob working in close collaboration with the architects from Hofmann & Durisch and metal fabrication specialists from Ragettli Metallbau AG. This partnership approach ensured seamless execution of the project vision.

Inspiring American Recreation and Tourism Innovation

The Senda dil Dragun offers compelling inspiration for American recreational developments seeking to create signature experiences. National and state parks can implement similar approaches to provide visitors with new perspectives on natural landscapes while minimizing environmental impact. Tourism destinations can develop distinctive attractions that create memorable experiences and drive visitor engagement.

The technology is equally applicable to urban forest preserves, where elevated pathways can create unexpected connections with nature in metropolitan settings. Mountain resorts and private recreational developments can expand their year-round offerings with immersive experiences that appeal to diverse audiences.

The Jakob USA Expertise

As the official Jakob Rope Systems office in the United States, our team brings comprehensive technical knowledge and support to American architectural and construction projects. We understand the unique requirements of large-scale installations and provide specialized expertise throughout the project lifecycle.

From initial concept development through detailed engineering and on-site implementation, our specialists ensure that each installation achieves both the technical requirements and design vision of the project. This consultative approach has established Jakob as a trusted partner for innovative architectural solutions.

Elevate Your Next Signature Project

When planning ambitious elevated walkways, canopy tours, or signature recreational attractions, engaging with our team early in the process ensures optimal results. Our specialists can provide comprehensive consultation, detailed technical specifications, and custom solutions tailored to your specific project requirements.

By drawing on our extensive experience with similar installations worldwide, we can help you navigate potential challenges and maximize the impact of your design vision. Our commitment to engineering excellence ensures that even the most ambitious concepts can be realized with safety and aesthetic integrity.

Contact Jakob Rope Systems USA today to explore how Webnet can transform your next signature project into a standout attraction that perfectly balances ambitious design with uncompromising safety.