Hiking with your Dog: Our favourite Trails and dog-friendly Hotels in the European Alps

Imagine standing at the top of a mountain, taking in the magnificent panorama around you and savouring the moment. Next to you is your four-legged friend, who is also looking out over the mountains, panting, but with a twinkle in his eye. Together you have conquered this peak. And now you are both looking forward to a snack. That’s the beauty of hiking with dogs. With your four-legged best friend, you share the joy (and the exertion).

From the mountains to the plains, dog walking is possible everywhere. These are our favourite walks in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. So it’ll be mountainous 😉 But don’t worry – you don’t need any special equipment or the stamina of a marathon runner for most of the routes. However, both you and your dog should be sure-footed and fit.

Mountain Hiking with your Dog: What to consider beforehand

Many nature reserves and national parks are in or near popular holiday destinations. It’s a good idea to find out in advance what rules you will need to comply with. In general, you can assume that you will need to keep your dog leashed. This is to prevent your dog from frightening the wildlife and to prevent it from frightening other walkers (who may be afraid of dogs).

In addition, you should be on the lookout for dog foul. Dog excrement, especially in large quantities, can have a harmful effect on the environment, particularly on groundwater quality. On mountain pastures, dog excrement can also contaminate the hay. This can make the animals sick. Pregnant cows are particularly at risk. Dogs carry a pathogen that can cause miscarriages.

In the Alps, too, it is possible for hiking trails to take you right through the middle of herds of cows. There are certain rules of behaviour to follow to avoid injury to you and your dog. Cows, in particular, can become very aggressive if they feel their calves are threatened.

Now, before we take you on some of our favourite walks, here’s a summary of what you should take with you on a trip. In the summer and in the winter. The Alps are a great place for winter walks too. However, it is important to check which paths are passable beforehand. If you don’t have any (alpine) experience, choose easier and shorter routes.

Summer Hiking in the Mountains with your Dog: This is what you need

• Bring enough water for you and him (check where you plan to go first. There may be water sources. But don’t rely on them, especially in summer). A collapsible water bowl for your dog, which can easily be attached to the outside of your rucksack.
• Snacks for you and your dog, depending on how far you’re going, to keep you going 😉
• A bag for dog waste and a bag for rubbish
• A small towel to dry your feet and possibly your dog if you have cooled off in a mountain stream. Also handy if you’ve been in a downpour and your dog gets cold quickly.
• A good dog harness to help your dog through difficult passages, possibly with a handle. And, of course, a lead and collar if necessary.
• A muzzle, if you are planning to take the cable car or use public transport.
• Blanket or cushion to rest on
• First aid kit, tick tweezers, disinfectant spray

A Winter Hike with your Dog in the Mountains: What you will need as well

• Insulated bottle so the water doesn’t get cold or freeze.
• Insulation mat for you and your dog during breaks.
• Paw pads to protect your dog from salt and grit in towns and on busy paths.
• Vaseline or similar to prevent snow from sticking to the pads of long-haired dogs.

Our favourite Hikes for Holidays with Dogs in Germany

The Wilderness of Rathsberg and Tenneloher Forst – Hiking with dogs in Franconia

Tour 1 – Wilderness on the Rathsberg

North of Erlangen is the primeval forest around Rathsberg. The gorge forest consists of ancient maple and ash trees, steep slopes and many springs and streams. It is a paradise for small animals of all kinds! Time and time again, you will see sandstone rocks jutting out next to the paths.

In general, the paths are natural and can really be described as forest paths. So it can get muddy after rain. But there are lots of forest smells that your dog will love. That’s a promise!

Tour 2 – Tenneloher Forest

On a former military site, the Tenneloher Forst nature reserve covers 936 hectares. It is one of the last large sand ecosystems in southern Germany. It has a steppe-like appearance. To preserve this, wild horses and peacock goats graze the areas to prevent them from becoming overgrown. It is safe to have a walk around the horse and goat enclosures. Due to the danger of ammunition in the rest of Tenneloher Forest, it is best to stay on the gravel paths.

By the way: The Tennenlohe Forest Adventure Centre offers special events and guided tours for children and adults throughout the year. There is also a nature trail.

Hiking with a Dog in Berchtesgaden National Park – The Aschau Gorge

Hike through the Aschau Gorge

The famous gorges in the Berchtesgaden National Park, such as the Almbach Gorge or the Wimbach Gorge, can get pretty crowded in the summer. Although we highly recommend the walks there, you and your dog may be more attracted to less crowded areas in the summer. If so, the Aschauer Klamm is for you.

The nine-kilometer walk gives you and your dog plenty of opportunities to cool off, and it’s generally not as oppressively hot inside the gorge as it is outside. Bear in mind, however, that there are some tricky passages where you may need to support your dog, especially if he tends to be clumsy. Wooden bridges and grating bridges without railings can be challenging. Gratings are particularly uncomfortable for dogs’ paws. Some dogs don’t mind at all, but there are more sensitive candidates.

If you want to see how they cope with tight corners and uneven surfaces, the Aschauer Klamm is a great training route. A perfect preparation for longer trips 😉

Hiking with your dog in the Allgäu – Up the Riedberger Horn

With your Dog on the Riedberger Horn

We recommend this tour, especially at sunrise or sunset. Why? For one thing, there is the fantastic view of the so-called Hörnergruppe. If that’s not enough for you, there’s less activity in the morning and evening hours, it’s less hot and it’s a bit of an adventure to walk the trail at dusk with a headlamp or torch. The tour is just under five kilometers long and is easily manageable for almost any human-dog combination, as long as you both have a normal level of fitness.

Our favourite Hikes for a Vacation with your Dog in Austria

Hiking with your Dog in the Seefeld Region – High Alpine Hike

High Alpine Hike above the Gaistal Valley with your Dog

If you’re looking for a longer hike that will take you all day, Seefeld is the place to be. Of course, there are plenty of hiking trails for all levels of fitness all around the famous resort. But the one we would like to introduce you to is the 24km high alpine trail above the Gaistal valley. There are refreshment points along the way and the panoramic views will never cease to amaze you.

The route also takes you through wildlife areas. If you are lucky, you may see marmots and chamois. In addition, you can always choose between a more difficult and steeper path or a moderate ascent. The loop is not suitable for completely inexperienced human-dog teams. This is partly because of its length, but also because it requires a certain amount of sure-footedness on the part of both the dog and the human. It is best to practise this on a shorter route before attempting this one.

Hiking with your Dog in the Hohe Tauern National Park – Glacier Trail Innergschlöss

Hike on the Glacier Trail Innergschlöss

The most beautiful valley castle in the Eastern Alps – that’s the name of the region we’re taking you to. From Matrei in East Tyrol you can either walk or take a taxi (please ask about the dog!) to the Gschlösstal valley. At the end of the valley begins the climb into the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Passing by the Salzbodensee and the “Eye of God”, you will experience the rugged nature at close quarters. The highlight, of course, is the view of the glacier at the foot of the Grossvenediger.

The trail is challenging, so be sure to download the route guide onto your phone in advance. A guidebook is also useful, as you can always look it up for interesting facts about the glaciated landscape.

Hiking with a Dog in Switzerland

Hiking with a dog in and around Zermatt – Five Lakes Tour

Five Lakes Tour in Zermatt

Perfect for a morning or evening walk in summer. The seven and a half kilometres are easy to walk, even though the path leads over meadows, sticks and stones.

From Blauherd it is only a short walk to the first lake. From there it is one highlight after another. The stars of the tour are, of course, the stunningly beautiful lakes. They couldn’t be more different. But the Matterhorn is always in sight. The lakes are Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee (the name says it all), the large reservoir Moosjisee and Leisee, which invites you for a final swim. Perfect for a morning hike, where you can get off the mountain before it gets too hot and crowded 😉 The first train leaves Sunnega for Blauherd at 8.10am from July.

Hiking with your Dog – Adventures on Holiday or at your Doorstep

Finally, we would like to invite you to use your holiday not only for walking with your dog but also to extend your everyday walk. Or spend a weekend exploring your local area on foot. You’ll be amazed at the places you’ll discover on a day trip!