Hiking with Your Dog in South Tyrol: Unmissable Trails in Nature
Walking through the woods with your dog is an experience you absolutely can't miss, especially in South Tyrol, where there are countless trails to explore. Discover the perfect routes for a mountain walk with your four-legged friend and visit wonderful places and peaceful oases.
Rifugio Tre Scarperi: An Adventure Through the Woods
With the Tre Cime National Park as a backdrop, walking in Alta Val Pusteria is enchanting. Among the most scenic routes, the one leading to Rifugio Tre Scarperi is a must-see.
Starting from the Val Campo di Dentro parking lot, halfway between San Candido and Sesto, you can choose to walk to the Antoniusstein parking lot or take the bus to shorten the walk by 2 km.
If you choose to continue on foot, you’ll enter the dense forest, where the trail is slightly uphill. While walking with your dog, be cautious of shuttle traffic where the trail intersects the paved road, so keep an eye on the leash!
After about 1.5 hours, you’ll reach the Antoniusstein parking lot, and from here, follow the paths leading to the refuge in another 30 minutes. It will feel like stepping into a painting, with the mountain rising toward the endless sky on one side and the valley opening on the other.
- Itinerary: Rifugio Tre Scarperi
- Difficulty for hiking with a dog: moderate
- Departure: From Campo Parking 1300 m
- Highest point: 1626 m
- Expected hours: 2 h uphill – 1:30 h downhill
- Elevation gain: 450 m
- Length: about 10 km
- Trail markers: 8
- Terrain type: dirt – asphalt
- Water: fountain at the refuge
- Shade: partial
- Recommended season: summer
NOTES: Shuttle service for a fee and the refuge kitchen is open until 3:00 PM
Rifugio Puez: The Beauty of Val Gardena
For this route in Val Gardena, it is recommended to start early to take advantage of the morning coolness. After leaving the car at the paid parking lot, head towards trail number 2.
You’ll start at the foot of the Cir, passing by the granite rock towers, and then reach Forcella Crespeina, which at 2528 meters is the highest point of the hike. After the initial climb, a series of ups and downs lead to Forcella Ciampei. At this point, the trail becomes narrower and more challenging, but it is the last obstacle before reaching a panoramic point where you can admire Vallelunga and the silhouette of the Sciliar. Another 20 minutes, and you will arrive at Rifugio Puez, where both you and your dog can take a break with good food and relaxation.
On the way back, it’s a great idea to detour along trail number 4, located at Forcella Ciampei, to pass by a small lake and enjoy the view of Sassongher.
Once at trail number 4b, which shortly becomes number 8, you will reach Passo Gardena. The route, which leads to Rifugio Forcelles, becomes wider and less strenuous, allowing for a more relaxed walk with your faithful friend. Another 30 minutes of walking, and you’ll be back at the Passo Gardena parking lot.
- Itinerary: From Passo Gardena to Rifugio Puez
- Difficulty for hiking with a dog: high
- Departure: From Passo Gardena Parking 2121 m
- Highest point: 2528 m
- Expected hours: 6 h
- Elevation gain: 1100 m
- Length: about 20 km
- Trail markers: 2 - 4 - 4b - 8
- Terrain type: dirt – rocky
- Water: small lake halfway
- Shade: small wooded area
- Recommended season: summer
NOTES: Doing this activity with your dog requires excellent fitness for both of you and a certain level of hiking experience, so don't underestimate the effort.
A Hike with Your Dog for All Seasons
We are in Val Passiria, where a very easy route, suitable for both hot summer days and colder winter ones, awaits you. The starting point is the small village of Plan, where you can leave the car in the parking lot and begin the hike through the town's alleys, then continue on trails 6 and 8.
From here, the route is mostly flat, with some gentle uphill sections. It’s the ideal place to spend a day with your furry companion in total safety and relaxation: the physical effort is not excessive, the road is wide, and a beautiful larch undergrowth provides shelter.
Halfway through the hike, the view opens onto an ancient village with wooden houses. Among these is a trattoria where you can stop for a delicious meal. But the spectacle is not over yet; another 20 minutes and you will reach Malga Lazins, where an ancient culinary tradition is always ready to welcome guests. To return, simply retrace the same path back to the parking lot.
- Itinerary: From Plan to Malga Lazins
- Difficulty for hiking with a dog: easy
- Departure: Plan Parking
- Highest point: 1880 m
- Expected hours: 1:30 h
- Elevation gain: 250 m
- Length: about 8.5 km
- Trail markers: 6 - 8
- Terrain type: dirt – gravel
- Water: small stream
- Shade: most of the route
- Recommended season: summer and winter
NOTES: This trail is also suitable for those with little experience in dog trekking.
Hiking with a Surprise Variant
The small village of Sant'Elena allows you to experience a trail that can be done by everyone but offers the possibility to take more complex routes. For a simple route, the path to Malga Mariolberg, which takes about an hour, is perfect.
The parking lot is located right in the woods, 8 km from the center of Sant'Elena. Following trail number 9a, which passes through the vegetation and along the mountain, you reach the malga in just 50 minutes. The meadows surrounding the cozy refuge offer the perfect setting to let your dog run and have lunch outdoors.
The return is the same as the outward journey, but for those who want to continue, it's possible to extend the walk by another 2 km towards Lake Falcomai, a beautiful natural water mirror where you can cool off your four-legged friend.
- Itinerary: From St. Pankraz to Malga Mariolberg
- Difficulty for hiking with a dog: easy
- Departure: Sant'Elena Parking (in the woods) 1535 m
- Highest point: 1670 m
- Expected hours: 1 h
- Elevation gain: 316 m
- Length: about 3.6 km
- Trail markers: 9
- Terrain type: dirt – gravel
- Water: Lake Falcomai, with an additional 1 h walk
- Shade: part of the route in the woods
- Recommended season: summer
NOTES: This trail can be done in one hour, but it contains several alternative destinations, so if you have the desire and fitness, you can also opt for longer routes, like the one leading to Lake Falcomai.