Aosta Valley with Your Dog and Best Trails

One thing that makes the Aosta Valley great for traveling with a dog is the variety of trails nearby.

In the same vacation, you can go from almost flat paths like Ru Courthoud to high-altitude areas accessible by cable car. There are also cooler, shaded valleys for summer walks without tough treks.

But watch out: in the Gran Paradiso National Park, dog access is strictly limited or banned to protect wildlife. Dogs are allowed only in valley areas and must be leashed. In summer, there's a temporary exception: from July 15 to September 15, some park-approved trails are open to leashed dogs.

If you're looking for an easy trail for a not-so-fit dog, Ru Courthoud is a great choice. This path follows an old irrigation canal and is rare for the Aosta mountains: it's long but mostly flat, often shaded, with several water points.

The entire route is over 15 kilometers, but you can do just part of it and still enjoy the walk. Because it lacks steep climbs, it's popular with those traveling with older dogs, large dogs, or anyone avoiding technical treks.

My personal tip: always use a harness with two side bags for your dog. This way, they can carry their own stuff (water, bowls, bags, snacks). Along many trails you may encounter cows grazing in alpine pastures: they are usually supervised, and a little attention is normally enough to avoid any problems.

Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche are easily reachable by car. Dogs can ride the lifts for free, as long as they're leashed and muzzled.

In summer, you can reach Plateau Rosà, where snow and cooler temperatures often remain, even in the hottest months. Or head to Salette, popular with families due to the Summer Park. For walking enthusiasts, the area offers many well-marked trails with time and difficulty info, many suitable for hiking with dogs.

Leash and muzzle in the backpack are a must. You often meet grazing cows and marmots on the trails.

Chamois is unique, especially for dog travelers. It's the only Italian town not reachable by car. This means no traffic, very little noise.

The easiest way to get there is by cable car from Buisson. The Buisson-Chamois cable car ticket for dogs costs about 3 euros. For adults, the round-trip ticket is around 6 euros. Rides usually start every 30 minutes, from early morning until evening.

In Chamois, you can enjoy a day without long hikes. Many people just walk between villages, relax in meadows near the center, and calmly reach Lago di Lod.

One easy route with a dog leads to Lago di Lod. It takes about forty minutes on foot or you can use the chairlift. In summer, many owners relax by the water. On hot days, some dogs even swim in the lake to cool off.

From Champoluc, you can also reach Lago Blu, a small alpine lake at Monte Rosa's base. The most popular path starts from Saint-Jacques. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours round trip, with moderate elevation suitable for dogs used to walking but not long treks.

Courmayeur is one of the easiest places in the Aosta Valley for combining walks, lifts, and tourist services, even with a dog. From here, the Skyway Monte Bianco starts, a cable car going up to Punta Helbronner at 3466 meters.

Dogs can access the Skyway Monte Bianco with a Pet Pass. It costs about 15 euros online, slightly more during peak season. Along the route and in panoramic pavilions, there are bowls with fresh water. For cable cars and local public transport, a muzzle or carrier is usually required for smaller dogs.

Around Courmayeur, Val Vény offers wide, easy trails. They run through woods and offer open views of Mont Blanc.

If you want to see parts of Gran Paradiso with your dog, some trails are allowed at specific times of the year. This is mainly in Pont Valsavarenche and Colle del Nivolet areas.