Hiking with your dog in the Pyrenees

Lovers of wide open spaces and the outdoors, you will be delighted to learn that your dog can accompany you on your hikes in the Pyrenees. Not all sites are accessible to our canine friends, but the mountains offer many opportunities for owners to take their dog for a hike in the Pyrenees. Come with us, we tell you everything !

Hiking with your dog in the parks and reserves of the Pyrenees

Even if the pretty landscaped trails are very tempting in the Pyrenees National Park, it is absolutely forbidden to walk there with your dog, even on a leash. The reasons are multiple since the presence of your companion can generate stress for the animal inhabitants of the park, disturb the living species on site, and sometimes carry parasites and diseases dangerous for the fauna and flora of the Pyrenees National Park. Be careful, the fine is steep with an amount of €350 if you do not respect the entry ban. Other Pyrenees National Parks and reserves are more tolerant, such as :

• The Pyrenees Ariégeois Regional Natural Park ,
• The Catalan Regional Natural Park,
• The Aulon Regional Nature Reserve,
• The Massif Pibeste-Aoulhet Regional Nature Reserve.

Do not hesitate to find out before leaving, the rules may change depending on the year.

Hiking with your dog along the lakes of the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees offer magnificent landscapes , but imagine the green colors mixing with the blue of the lakes with a mountain backdrop? You are there, and so is your dog since he can accompany you for a hike along the lakes of the Pyrenees .

In Hautacam:

• Lake Isabe
• Lake Ourrec

In Gavarnie:

• Lake Bastampe,
• Gloriette Lake

In Cauterets:

• Lake Ilhéou,
• Estom Lake

Other hikes with a dog in the Pyrenees are accessible such as Lake Estaing in the Azun Valley, Lake Ayous in the Ossau Valley or Lake Ansabère in the Aspe Valley.

Hiking with your dog between the peaks and passes of the Pyrenees

If you like climbs and are ready to take your companion to attack the mountains, here are some hikes authorized for your 4-legged friend in the Pyrenees :

• Cabaliros peak to reach the most beautiful viewpoint in the Hautes-Pyrénées,
• The Bergons peak with a magnificent 360° view at the summit,
• The peak of the stairs with a lovely panorama of Soule and Lower Navarre,
• The Riou pass east of Cauterets.

Don't stop there, with your dog you can also hike on the Soum de Grum or on the Holzarte footbridge !

Hiking with your dog in the Pyrenees, some advice before leaving

What a pleasure to travel the trails with your favorite animal, and to share good moments of complicity with it. Even if the desire is strong to take him for a hike in the Pyrenees, it is important to have a well-prepared dog, accustomed to long walks and prolonged efforts. Also pay attention to the age of your dog, before offering him long rides on a cushion, he must have completed his growth and reached his physical maturity to avoid injury. Once there, know that you are responsible for your 4-legged companion. Make sure he's hydrated and take breaks if you feel tired. Don't forget the poop bags ! Even in the mountains, it's unpleasant to walk in uncollected dog waste.

All you have to do is follow the signs and go hiking with your dog in the Pyrenees.

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