Holiday with your dog in the Harz Mountains

The Harz is the ideal region for a holiday with a dog. As a central low mountain range, it scores points for its convenient location and quick accessibility. Whether it's a leisurely walk on a Sunday afternoon or a sporty dog trekking tour along the Harzer-Hexen-Stieges - in the Harz, the daily walk with the dog becomes an experience. More than 8,000 km of signposted hiking trails make every dog's heart beat faster, because there is something to discover and sniff at every corner. In every town in the Harz there is suitable accommodation where four-legged friends are also warmly welcome. Many sights can be visited with dogs, there are now even some fenced off-leash areas for dogs and in summer, swimming lakes and dams invite you to splash around together. We'll show you what you shouldn't miss on your holiday with your dog.

In 6 steps to a dog vacation:

Hiking trails and tours
Information about vacationing with your dog
Dogfriendly accomodations
Tourportal and App for on the go
Destinations with dogs
Harz dog forests

Hiking trails and tours

Experiences in the magical Harz Mountains

der Top Trail des Harzes

The Harz hiking pin

'Harzer Wandernadel' with dogs

With the Harzer Wandernadel you can hike the entire Harz and experience its entire spectrum. The stamp points are located at a total of 222 places worth seeing throughout the Harz near romantic forest restaurants, rustic refuges and a variety of interesting viewpoints. Mines, castle ruins or natural monuments and of course the majestic Brocken are also waiting for your visit and have a stamp ready for you. For the four-legged hikers there is even a four-paw badge that can be attached to the collar or harness.

Learn more

2. Information about vacationing with your dog

Good to know

Behavior in the Harz National Park

Please remember that in order to protect local wild animals such as lynxes, wild cats, etc., leashes are compulsory in the entire area of the national park - all year long! This is monitored by national park rangers and can sometimes result in high fines. Filled plastic waste bags, which are often left on the side of the path because there is no trash can, are also not welcome. Except in the national park locations and - with a lot of luck - in the hiking car parks, there are no rubbish bins. To protect nature and animals, please take your rubbish with you. By the way, your dogs' droppings can be left lying around. If the pile is directly on the hiking trail, use a stick to push it aside. Further information can be found here: Initiative #NimmsWiederMit.

Breeding and setting time in the Harz

The Harz extends across the federal states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. During the breeding and breeding season, dogs must be walked on a leash - otherwise there will be fines of between 50 and 2,500 euros. In Lower Saxony the breeding and breeding season lasts from April 1st to July 15th, in Saxony-Anhalt from March 1st to July 15th and in Thuringia it is compulsory to keep them on a leash in the forest all year round.

Considerate behavior

As in any other region, the principle of mutual consideration also applies in the Harz. Not every person walks past free-roaming dogs without fear and not every dog wants dog contact with others. Short communication can avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant situations.

3. Dogfriendly accomodations

for a carefree holiday

"Without a dog - without me!" - I'm sure many of you know this. This doesn't have to be the case in the Harz, because there are a variety of hotels in every category, holiday homes and apartments as well as glamping and camping options available for a carefree holiday with your four-legged family member. And that even in every Harz town! Sometimes there is a small extra charge, but often there are even dog bowls, treats or pillows available for your pet. Our colleagues at the tourist information office are also available to help and advise you and are guaranteed to find the ideal accommodation for the most wonderful time of the year.

4. For the dog walks

Tour portal and app

Our tour portal offers numerous suggestions for daily dog walks, but also hiking, cycling and winter tours in the Harz as well as the opportunity to plan your own tours. The topographical representation is supplemented with information on the length, level of difficulty, duration and elevation profile of the routes as well as detailed route descriptions.

To the tour portal

The Harz app offers all excursions, tours, accommodation and leisure options in the highest low mountain range in northern Germany at a glance.

Harz App for iPhone Harz App for Android

5. Destinations with dogs

Dog-friendly attractions at a glance

6. Harz dog forests and dog areas

"Take only memories with you and leave nothing but footprints" (and paw prints)

Chief Seattle

In the "Little Tyrol" of the Harz Mountains there is the tranquil town of Wildemann and a little outside of it - in the middle of the forest - the Harz Dog Forest. This is a 3,000 square meter, fully fenced area where dogs can play, dig and roll around to their heart's content. The outdoor area is accessible day and night via a lock and is free of charge. Meanwhile, the dog people can exchange ideas with each other and find a place to sit and watch their four-legged friend.

Zur Seite Harzer Hundewald

On the edge of the Harz town of Wolfshagen there is a large, fenced off-leash dog area that is open to anyone interested, daily and all year round from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A total of 5,000 square meters are available to the dogs. Trees and bushes provide cooling shade on summer days and the associated dog people also find a place to sit down or take shelter.

Zur Seite Hundefreilauf Wolfshagen

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See you in the Harz!