Every year during Easter weekend, we escape to Interlaken for a few peaceful days with our Shiba Inu, Kitsune. As spring slowly arrives, it’s the perfect time for fresh air and beautiful hikes with dogs. Here are our 8 favorite dog-friendly hikes in Interlaken that we return to year after year.
PS: It’s been 10 years we’ve been coming to Interlaken for Easter. You’ll find some lovely pictures of Kitsune from age 6 to 12 in this post 🥹
1. St. Beatus Caves – Dog-Friendly Hike with Lake Thun Views
Did you know you can actually visit the caves with your dog? This is one of our favorite dog-friendly trails near Interlaken. You can walk from Interlaken along the lake or take the bus to Beatenberg and walk down through the forest. The views over Lake Thun are stunning the whole way.
🥾 Trail Route: Interlaken → St Beatus Cave OR Beatenberg → St Beatus Cave
🕘 Duration: Approx. 2 hours
🐕 Cave entrance: Entrance is 19 CHF per person / 10 CHF per dog. It’s quite noisy inside, Kitsune was a bit scared.
2. Harder Kulm – Panoramic View with Dog-Friendly Funicular
For breathtaking panoramic views over Interlaken, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, Harder Kulm is a must. You can hike all the way up, or take the funicular up and enjoy an easy walk down.
🥾 Trail: Harder Kulm → Interlaken
🕘 Duration: approx. 2 hours (only the way down)
🐾 Notes: The funicular was free for Kitsune
3. Weissenau Nature Reserve – Easy Flat Walk Close to Interlaken
A peaceful and easy dog-friendly walk right next to Interlaken. Flat paths with wooden pontoons, beautiful scenery, and plenty of other dogs to meet along the way 🤎
🥾 Trail: Interlaken → Unterseen
From the camping, you can go back to Interlaken by bus. Otherwise, it would also be possible to continue to St Beatus Cave
4. Giessbach & Iseltwald – Our Favorite Lake Brienz Walk
Our favourite, we go back every year. There’s something about Lake Brienz that feels incredibly peaceful. We usually take the boat from Interlaken to Giessbach, then walk to Iseltwald along the lake.
🥾 Trail Route: Giessbach → Giessbach Hotel → Iselwald
🫕 Food Stops: You can stop either at Giessbach Hotel or Iseltwald. You can also bring a picnic and enjoy it on the boat.
5. Axalp & Hinterburgseeli – Beautiful Hike Above Lake Brienz
A beautiful hike above Lake Brienz, between forest and open views. We went there this year and there was still snow. We didn't see the lake, but the hike was still beautiful and we'll definitely try it again next year!
🥾 Trail: Axalp → Hinterburgseeli → Axalp
6. Aareschlucht – Immersive Gorge Experience
A slightly more adventurous but very beautiful walk near Meiringen. Kitsune was a bit unsure at first (she’s not a big fan of water), but she quickly adapted.
🥾 Trail Route: Meiringen → Aareschlucht → Meiringen
🕘 Duration: Approx. 2 hours
7. Lauterbrunnen & the 72 Waterfalls – Iconic & Easy Walk
An iconic and relatively easy walk surrounded by 72 waterfalls. The trail starts directly from the train station and can be shortened depending on your energy.
🕘 Duration: We spend around 3hours, but you can easily manage the walk.
🦽 Mostly flat and accessible (stroller / wheelchair friendly).
🐾 Dog-Friendly Notes: We wouldn’t recommend it in the peak of summer as it can get quite hot on the road.
🫕 Food: Restaurants in Lauterbrunnen or small self-service stands along the way.
8. Gimmelwald to Lauterbrunnen – Scenic Top-Down Hike
This hike is also in the Lauterbrunnen area, but instead you do it from the top. From Gimmelwad, you take the gondolas and then walk to Lauterbrunnen back following the train.
🥾 Trail Route: Take the gondolas from Gimmelwald → Mürren → Grütschalp → Lauterbrunnen
🚂 Notes: You can take the train at any point if you want to shorten the walk.
