The GR footpaths are a network of long-distance walking trails in Europe, mostly in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. They go by the following names: French: sentier de grande randonnée, West Flemish: Groteroutepad, Dutch: Langeafstandwandelpad, Spanish: sendero de gran recorrido, Portuguese: percurso pedestre de grande rota – generally meaning "long trail" or more literally "great route". The trails in France alone cover approximately 60,000 kilometres (37,000 mi). Trails are blazed with characteristic marks consisting of a white stripe above a red stripe. These appear regularly along the route, especially at places such as forks or crossroads.

The network is maintained in France by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (French Hiking Federation),^[1] and in Spain by the Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada (Spanish Mountain Sports Federation).^[2] Many GR routes make up part of the longer European walking routes which cross several countries.

The GR trails are marked using a system of blazes that are visible in both directions:

• France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Spain: red and white bars; 3 subtypes
• Luxembourg: yellow rectangles or circles
• Switzerland: red and white bars or yellow diamonds

Red and white was chosen as the most visible colour combination in natural surroundings. Waymarks are often painted, but may take the form of metal signs in city centers.

• Follow the track
• Change direction
• Wrong direction

• European long-distance paths
• Metropolitan trail