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Best Parks & Off-Leash Areas in Interlaken

🇨🇭Interlaken, Switzerland·Updated 14 June 2026

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Interlaken's defining green space is the Höhematte, a 10-hectare public meadow protected since 1864 in the heart of the resort, with uninterrupted Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau views. Add the Aare riverside walks, the Sundlauenen and Bönigen lakeshore strolls and the Heimwehfluh and Harder forest tracks, and you have one of the most walkable dog cities in the Alps. Bernese canton-wide leash duty in forests applies 1 April to 31 July (ground-nesting bird season).

Höhematte

Bödeli centre · Höheweg, 3800 Interlaken

Ten hectares of protected public meadow bisected by the Höheweg, framed by the grand hotels on one side and uninterrupted Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau views on the other. Paragliders land here daily. The Gemeinde Interlaken allows leashed dogs at all times; bag stations are posted at every entry.

🐾 Leashed dogs welcome year-round; off-leash not permitted on the meadow (paraglider landing zone)

💡 Sit on the south edge at 18:00 to watch dozens of paragliders land while the Jungfrau turns pink. Keep your dog leashed short, landings can be sudden.

🏨 Pet-friendly hotels nearby →🌐 Visit official website →📍 View on Google Maps →

Aare Riverside Promenade

Unterseen / Aare · Spielmatte, 3800 Unterseen

Three-kilometre flat riverside path along the turquoise Aare between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, threading the old town of Unterseen and the Spielmatte parkland. Shade, benches, dog-water access along the bank and a network of side trails toward the Harder forest.

🐾 Leashed dogs welcome year-round; off-leash tolerated outside busy hours away from the playground sections

💡 Start at Interlaken West, walk upstream toward the Lake Brienz outflow at Interlaken Ost, take the boat back. Two hours total, two stations, one panoramic ride.

🏨 Pet-friendly hotels nearby →🌐 Visit official website →📍 View on Google Maps →

Heimwehfluh Forest

Heimwehfluh / Matten · Heimwehfluhstrasse, 3800 Interlaken

Wooded ridge rising 211 m above the Bödeli with a funicular, panorama tower, family park and 8 km of shaded forest tracks. The hike up via the Mattenweg takes 35 minutes; the funicular accepts leashed small dogs free and larger dogs with a half-fare ticket.

🐾 Leash required 1 April to 31 July (nesting season); off-leash tolerated on forest tracks rest of year if recall is reliable

💡 Take the funicular up, walk down via the panoramic forest loop, 90 minutes of shaded descent, exits next to the Interlaken West Aare bridge.

🏨 Pet-friendly hotels nearby →🌐 Visit official website →📍 View on Google Maps →

💡 Quick Tips

1.Bernese canton enforces a leash duty in forests from 1 April to 31 July to protect ground-nesting wildlife; fines start at CHF 100 for unbagged droppings.
2.Höhematte is a protected paraglider landing zone, dogs must stay leashed; the long-recall meadows are the riverside Spielmatte and the Bönigen lakeshore parks instead.
3.Bring a long line for forest tracks on Heimwehfluh and Harder, the woods host chamois and roe deer; off-leash with weak recall is not safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can dogs run off-leash in Interlaken?

There is no enclosed off-leash dog park inside the Bödeli. Dogs can run off-leash on quiet stretches of the Aare riverside path outside peak hours, on the Heimwehfluh and Harder forest tracks (outside 1 April to 31 July) and on selected Lake Brienz beaches off-season. Höhematte requires leash year-round.

Are the Höhematte and Höheweg dog-friendly?

Yes, both welcome leashed dogs year-round. The Höhematte itself is a protected paraglider landing meadow, so dogs must stay leashed; bag dispensers are at every entry and the Gemeinde Interlaken fines unbagged droppings.

More Interlaken guides

🍽️Restaurants 🚇Transport 🏖️Beaches 🏥Vets 💡Local Tips 🏛️Attractions 🐶Pet Sitting

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💡 Quick Tips

1.Bernese canton enforces a leash duty in forests from 1 April to 31 July to protect ground-nesting wildlife; fines start at CHF 100 for unbagged droppings.

2.Höhematte is a protected paraglider landing zone, dogs must stay leashed; the long-recall meadows are the riverside Spielmatte and the Bönigen lakeshore parks instead.

3.Bring a long line for forest tracks on Heimwehfluh and Harder, the woods host chamois and roe deer; off-leash with weak recall is not safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can dogs run off-leash in Interlaken?

Are the Höhematte and Höheweg dog-friendly?