Dog-Friendly Lake Day Trips from Bolzano

The warmest swimming lake in the Alps sits 15 km south of Bolzano amid vineyards. Public bathing beaches forbid dogs for hygiene reasons, but the Peace Trail (Sentiero della Pace / Friedensweg), the Castelvecchio forest path and the entire western shore promenade welcome leashed dogs and offer shaded paths through Lagrein vineyards. A few private 'Bagno con cane' jetties have opened on the southern shore for dog swimming.

A pair of small forest lakes (Grosser Montiggler See and Kleiner Montiggler See) in the cool oak woods above Appiano, popular with Bolzano families. Dogs are not allowed at the lake's swimming areas between 15 May and 15 September, but the 6 km forested loop around both lakes is open to leashed dogs year-round and is one of the coolest shaded walks near the city in midsummer.

When the lakes ban dog bathing in summer, locals head to the broad, shallow gravel banks of the Talvera river right in the city. Below the Druso bridge the water is clean, knee-deep and gravel-bottomed — many Bolzano residents bring their dogs to cool off here in July and August. Not an official swimming area, but tolerated for dogs at owner's risk; avoid after heavy rain when the current strengthens.