Wolf Trail Facts: 3,500 km long-distance trail guide

The concept:

Long-distance hiking across Europe

Our Wolf Trail invites you to hike across Europe on foot – from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic. Whether you take on the full trail as a thru-hiker or choose individual stages, this is long-distance hiking your way.

Every step lets you experience the nature, places and people along the way, fully and consciously. This is your journey: slow, authentic and real.

The Wolf Trail at a glance

The Wolf Trail stretches across roughly 3,493 kilometres, passing through six countries – Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. Hiking the entire trail means covering around 78,416 metres of elevation gain – that's the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest ten times over.

Difficulty

Beginner to alpin

Duration

7 stages / 4–6 months

Best time to hike

May – October

Terrain

Forest paths & singletracks

Discover the full trail here and plan your stages

Scenic highlights: long-distance trails with a view

The trail connects nature with culture: Hanseatic fishing villages, the wine landscapes of the Pfalz, and Trieste as a melting pot. You can shape the experience as a structured hiking programme with fixed stages, or as a thru-hike across Europe, taking it one step at a time.

North

Sand dunes in Słowiński National Park, ancient beech forests along the Baltic coast.

Middle

The wide-open expanse of Lüneburg Heath, the mystical Black Forest, and the open waters of Lake Constance.

South

The Dolomites (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Julian Alps – ideal for long-distance hiking in Europe.

Difficulty, pace & elevation profile

The Wolf Trail is a long-distance hike suited to both beginners and experienced thru-hikers:

The warm-up: Start off beginner-friendly, with flat sections through Poland and northern Germany.

The climb: Heading south, the terrain becomes more demanding, with the final stages crossing alpine passes up to 2,500–3,000 metres.

Pace and endurance: This isn't about setting records – it's about mindfulness and taking it all in.

The 7 stages of the Wolf Trail

Shape your own adventure – from short sections to a full crossing of Europe. The Wolf Trail is divided into seven distinctive stages, each with its own character, so you can plan the route around your time, fitness and appetite for adventure:

Hel to Świnoujście: coastal forests and endless sandy beaches.

Usedom to Geesthacht: the Mecklenburg coastline and the Elbe valley.

Geesthacht to Marsberg: Lüneburg Heath and gentle, wooded hills.

Marsberg to Bad Dürkheim: the Rothaar Mountains and the wine landscapes of the Pfalz.

Bad Dürkheim to Konstanz: through the Black Forest to the edge of the Alps.

Konstanz to Oberstdorf: your entry point into the Allgäu Alps.

Oberstdorf to Trieste: the most demanding stage, through the Dolomites and the Julian Alps, all the way to the Adriatic.

Each stage is a standalone adventure for long-distance hikers, or can be tackled as part of a full thru-hike across Europe.

Who is this long-distance trail suited to?

An adventure for everyone:

Thru-hikers / long-distance hiking Europe: 4–6 months of intensive hiking.
Section hikers: 2–4 weeks to experience your own stage.
Casual explorers: Entry points allow for day trips or the first 50–100 km.

Whether you're hiking long-distance with your dog, travelling with a hiking group, or heading out solo as a thru-hiker, the Wolf Trail lets you discover Europe your way.

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