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Where to hike with your dog? What about transporting your furry friend with cable cars in the High and Low Tatras? Can a dog or another pet go to Mt Lomnický štít?
Latest updates on where dogs and other animals can go in the Tatra National Park (TANAP)
“Generally and in very simple terms, we could say that it’s forbidden to take dogs to high-altitude areas, i.e. above the tree line, and to mountain chalets,” said Nina Obžutová, the spokeswoman for the Tatra National Park Administration.
From the Decree on the Rules of TANAP and its Protected Zones, it is clear that as of 20th November 2023, walking with dogs in the national park is significantly limited. However, there are places and routes where you can take your furry companion.
Hiking with dogs is allowed outside areas with marmot colonies, areas where chamois herds regularly appear and areas where large predators and other rare and endangered species occur. These areas are marked with a sign at their boundary at all hiking trails which pass through such locations.
It is also forbidden to take any domestic pet to places designated for mountain climbing, ski mountaineering and winter hiking.
Laws on hiking with dogs in nature
A leash and a muzzle are necessary if individual hiking trails require them. Several laws regulate walking off-leash for dogs and violation may result in fines. Even if your dog is friendly and harmless, rules must be followed. Let’s sum up the most essential laws concerning staying with dogs in nature.
Basic laws:
- The Hunting Act states that a dog can be off-leash up to 50 metres from the person walking it in a hunting ground and should have a harness or a collar of a different colour than its fur.
- The Forest Act stipulates that dogs cannot walk off-leash in forest land at all.
- The Nature and Landscape Protection Act, on the other hand, allows dogs to walk off-leash everywhere except the 4th and 5th protection zone.
Where to hike with your dog in the High Tatras?
You can take a longer walk with your pet from Podbanské through Tichá dolina (valley) to Liptovský košiar or through Kôprová dolina (valley) below Kmeťov vodopád (waterfall). The so-called arterial hiking trail of the Tatras (Tatranská Magistrála) is ideal for making nice trips too – from Štrbské Pleso to Bobrovecká vápenica.
If you want, take a funicular from Starý Smokovec to Hrebienok and continue to Rainer’s chalet. The chairlift running from Štrbské Pleso to the chalet below Mt Solisko or the cable car between Tatranská Lomnica and Skalnaté pleso offer stunning views to enjoy with your four-legged friend as well. And you can return back along a hiking trail from there.
Hiking trails: More trip suggestions for your dog
Žiarska dolina (valley) – Žiarska chalet, Popradské pleso TEŽ (tram station) – Popradské pleso (tarn), Starý Smokovec – crossroads below Mt Slavkovský štít, Starý Smokovec – Rainer’s chalet, Tatranské zruby – crossroads above Zruby, Nový Smokovec – crossroads above Zruby, Štrbské Pleso – chalet below Mt Solisko, Tatranská Lesná – Rainer’s chalet, Tatranská Lomnica – Rainer’s chalet, Tatranská Lomnica – Skalnaté pleso, Tatranské Matliare – Šalviový prameň crossroads, Biela voda – Šalviový prameň crossroads, Kežmarské žľaby – Tatranská kotlina.
The rules are there to prevent encounters with wildlife, prevent dogs from getting lost or getting in contact with other dogs, encountering cyclists, walking off the hiking trail, swimming in forest streams or ponds, to prevent throwing stones at tourists and lack of tolerance towards tourists who may be afraid of dogs.
Map of locations and hiking trails where pets are allowed.
Where to hike with your dog in the Low Tatras?
Mt Chopok – Mt Ďumbier
Take the cable car to Mt Chopok (both you and your dog) and hike along a moderately difficult trail to the highest peak of the Low Tatras – Mt Ďumbier. The trail runs along the red hiking trail past Kamená chata (chalet), over Demänovské sedlo (saddle) and Mt Krúpova hoľa to Mt Ďumbier. You can return to Mt Chopok along he same way.
Mt Chopok – Mt Dereše
The second trip suggestion for you and your dog in the Low Tatras is the trail from the Rotunda restaurant on top of Mt Chopok to Mt Dereše. It is a paved stone path and it takes less than 30 minutes to get to the Dereše signpost along it.
Transporting dogs and other domestic pets by cable cars
If your dog loves adventures and doesn’t have problems with heights, you can use some cable cars when making trips together. Of course, your dog must be leashed and muzzled at all cable cars where dogs are allowed. Cable car tickets for dogs or any other domestic animals can only be purchased at customer centres or ticket offices in individual resorts.
Jasná resort – dogs on cable cars on Mt Chopok
You can transport smaller dogs with all cable cars in Jasná, i.e. by using transport cages etc. Only one smaller dog or another smaller animal can sit with you on one chair or seat. If you want to transport more than one smaller dog, please inform the cable car staff. If your dog is larger, it will need its own cable car ticket and that costs 10 € 😊.
What is considered a “larger breed”? One that doesn’t fit in a bag or a bag for dogs or other smaller animals.
Dog on cable cars in the High Tatras
Route High Tatras – Tatranská Lomnica and High Tatras – Starý Smokovec
In the High Tatras – in the resorts of Tatranská Lomnica and Starý Smokovec, dogs can be transported by all cable cars except for the chairlift running to Lomnické sedlo (saddle) and the cable car running to Mt Lomnický štít. Larger breeds need cable car tickets (10€ per animal or 6€ per animal for the funicular in Hrebienok).
In the Štrbské Pleso resort, dogs are allowed on all cable cars. Larger breeds need cable car tickets (9€ per animal). It is not possible to travel with a dog to Lomnické sedlo (saddle) or Mt Lomnický štít. No, not even with a small one.
Dogs on TEŽ trains (Tatra Electric Railway)
Your dog can travel with TEŽ trains (trams) if you keep it on a short leash and if it wears a muzzle or if it is in a transport cage. There are usually transport fees for larger breeds.
Dog-friendly accommodation establishments in the High Tatras
The FIS Hotel in Štrbské Pleso is in perfect harmony with nature and a true oasis for athletes thanks to its location. In addition to all superlatives, it is also a dog-friendly hotel. Dogs are welcome to stay there, so if your four-legged friend likes being active, feel free to take it with you. Read more interesting facts about the FIS Hotel in the article here.
This article has been created in cooperation with MTHIKER.sk.
