Via ferrata Hochjoch vs. via ferrata Madrisella
First of all, one important thing: your four-legged friend travels for FREE on the cable cars throughout the Montafon. Whether in Brandnertal, Golm or Gargellen, you pay nothing extra for your dog. Muzzles are generally compulsory for your dog on the cable cars. Especially in the large gondola lifts, where there is space for up to 60 people and you stand close together, I would definitely recommend a muzzle! It keeps you and your dog safe.
I regularly take my Irish Setter Bali, 4 years old, to the Silvretta Montafon as we live here. This means that Bali is used to going on longer tours and is also a master climber, which in turn means that our tours can also be a bit more challenging. Here are three hikes from easy to difficult. Bali has a shoulder height of 62 cm and is relatively tall for his breed, so you may be able to judge a little better whether it is feasible for you and your dog.
3. Alpgues circular trail
Starting point: Grasjoch cable car mountain station Distance: 10km Elevation gain: 705m Duration: 4-5 hours Difficulty: medium
You can find a detailed tour description at: https://www.silvretta-montafon.at/de/sommer/sommeraktivitaeten/wandern/alpgues-rundweg
One of my absolute favorite hikes in the Silvretta Montafon. The panorama is truly fantastic and a new natural spectacle opens up in front of you every time! Most of the hike takes you through the Verwall European nature reserve, which in turn means that leashes are compulsory on this hike. At the start of the hike, you should also be free from giddiness and your dog should already have some experience of walking on narrow paths on a slope. If you start early in the morning (which I would definitely recommend on a hot summer's day), you will first walk in the shade. An unbelievably beautiful mountain panorama awaits you at the Roßbergjoch and the first cooling off at the upper Alpguessee is also in sight. There is no running water from the Grasjoch cable car to the Roßbergjoch, but from there on there is plenty. You should therefore pack water for you and your dog. The descent to the Alpguesalpe is via the lower and most beautiful of the two alpine lakes and is absolutely refreshing for your feet and your dog. After the Alpguesalpe, there is another long and tough ascent back to the Grasjoch cable car/hut. You will be walking in the blazing sun the whole time here, so make sure you pack sun protection and fill up your water bottles again. After a good 4-5 hours (pure walking time) you will be back at your starting point.
What makes this hike so beautiful with a dog? I like walking it so much because you meet so few people here and are completely on your own and with your dog. There are always beautiful places to linger and, with the two lakes, also a place to cool off.
