In 2018, the only thing the ticket takers were interested in was our Cinque Terre card, which was our admission ticket to the trails. Here is a ticket booth above Vernazza late last September. Trails not too crowded on a perfect day.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3928a2674.jpeg

I thought I had posted on this but do not see it. I wore converse high tops and no problem. It is not a tough hike at all. There were even stairs to climb. Climbing Crough Patrick was very slippery as it was shale. I don't see the problem except for people who don't bring water. If hot bring two bottles.

The lower trails are not very challenging, but the higher trails are. Any of them can be difficult when the ground is wet.

The article doesn't make a distinction for type of trail. I suspect that totally paved trails, like the Via d'Amore (if it ever reopens) wouldn't be included.

I just looked at the trail maps, and it seems that all the lower trails connecting the five villages are closed now. I'm not sure why, the weather he been quite dry.

Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre - Visita il Parco - Sentieri e outdoor - Rete sentieristica

The trails marked in black are closed. The blue ones are "tourist level", but none of them can be reached from any of the five villages. Green is "excursionistic", and orange is "difficult".