Rules of Conduct & Hiking with Your Dog

The alpine pastures in Almenland not merely a natural backdrop—they are the workplace of our farmers and the home of numerous grazing animals. Many of our hiking trails lead directly through farmland. With a little knowledge and consideration, we can all help ensure that people, dogs, and animals stay safe while out and about.

Our alpine pastures are a vibrant living and working environment. Cows, horses, and other grazing animals roam freely here and behave according to their natural instincts. Mother animals, in particular, protect their calves vigilantly and may react sensitively to people approaching them in certain situations. Dogs, too, are often perceived by grazing animals as a potential threat—even when they are well-trained and friendly. At the same time, our farmers perform valuable work every day by caring for their animals and, with great dedication, preserving and maintaining the unique cultural landscape of the Almenland region. Through mutual consideration and responsible behavior, we all contribute to ensuring that people, animals, and nature coexist harmoniously.

If you need urgent help while on the road:

• Alpine Emergency Number: 140 (please provide GPS coordinates if possible)
• International Emergency Number: 112

Please note the following before and during each tour:

• Assess the skill levels of all participants, especially the children.
• Plan your tour and check the opening hours of the places to stop for a bite to eat
• Make sure you have the appropriate gear (clothing, drinks, GPS system, smartphone, hiking map, rain gear, hiking boots)
• Always stay on the marked trails
• Please take your trash with you and dispose of it at the designated trash stations.
• Many plants in the alpine pastures are protected or even poisonous. Please leave the habitat just as you found it.

• Avoid contact with grazing livestock: Do not feed or pet the animals. Keep a safe distance.
• Stay calm; do not startle the grazing livestock.
• Mother cows protect their calves: Avoid encounters between mother cows and dogs.
• Always keep dogs under control and on a short leash. If an attack by a grazing animal appears imminent, let the dog off the leash immediately!
• Do not stray from the hiking trails on alpine pastures and meadows.
• If grazing livestock is blocking the path, go around them, keeping as much distance as possible.
• If grazing livestock approaches: stay calm, do not turn your back, and move out of the animals' way.
• Be mindful of fences. If there is a gate, use it and close it immediately afterward.
• Cross the pasture quickly. At the first sign of agitation among the animals, leave the pasture area immediately.
• Please treat the people who work here, nature, and the animals with respect.

If you want to play it safe and avoid any encounters between your pet and cattle in the first place, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve listed some of our most popular tours for you. None of these hikes pass through pastures, making them perfect for an outing with your four-legged friend! Almost all of our hiking trails in the Almenland Nature Park Almenland accessible year-round. As a rule, the cattle are driven up to the alpine pastures starting in early June and remain there until the end of September.

For your own safety, however, we ask that you always keep your dogs on a leash.

Thank you for respecting our landscape, protecting our animals, and valuing the work of our farmers. Through your actions, you’re helping Almenland that the Almenland Nature Park remains a place where people, animals, and nature can coexist.

Visit the “Safe Alpine Pastures” website