The Concept: Long-Distance Hiking in Europe

Our Wolf Trail invites you to explore Europe on foot – from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic. Whether you hike the entire trail as a thru-hiker or choose individual sections, you’ll experience long-distance hiking your way.

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

Wolf Trail at a Glance

The Wolf Trail stretches approximately 3,500 kilometers and passes through six countries – Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Slovenia. Hiking the entire trail means climbing about 96,000 meters in elevation – equivalent to ten times the height of Mount Everest.

A full hike takes four to six months, but even the seven individual sections provide perfect opportunities for long-distance hikers who want to discover Europe, or for shorter day hikes for a quick escape.

Wolf Trail Character & Terrain: Difficulty & Landscape

The Wolf Trail connects well-known European long-distance trails, including the E1, E9, and the Via Alpina, into a continuous route for thru-hikers.

Diverse Landscapes: sandy coasts, pine forests, the green rolling hills of Central Europe, and the rugged limestone landscapes of the Alps offer a wide variety of impressions.

Trail Surfaces: beautiful forest paths, challenging single trails, and alpine tracks.

Scenic Highlights: Long-Distance Trails with Views

The Wolf Trail shows Europe in all its facets. Each region tells its own story:

North: sand dunes in Słowiński National Park, ancient beech forests along the Baltic Sea.

Central: the wide expanses of the Lüneburg Heath, the mystical Black Forest, and the open waters of Lake Constance.

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

The trail combines nature with culture: Hanseatic fishing villages, the wine regions of the Palatinate, and Trieste as a cultural melting pot. You can design the experience as a structured hike with set stages or as a thru-hike to cross Europe step by step.

Difficulty, Pace & Elevation Profile

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

Warm-up: Start easy with flat sections in Poland and northern Germany.

The Ascent: The terrain becomes more challenging toward the south, with the final sections crossing Alpine passes at 2,500–3,000 meters.

Pace & Endurance: Not focused on speed but on mindfulness and conscious experience.

The 7 Sections of the Wolf Trail

Customize your own adventure – from individual sections to hiking across Europe. The Wolf Trail is divided into seven distinct sections, each with its own character, allowing you to plan your route according to time, fitness, and sense of adventure:

Section 1: Baltic Start (430 km) – Hel to Świnoujście: coastal forests and endless sandy beaches.
Section 2: Rivers & Plains (530 km) – Usedom to Geesthacht: Mecklenburg coast and the Elbe Valley.
Section 3: The Green Heart (480 km) – Geesthacht to Marsberg: Lüneburg Heath and gentle, forested hills.
Section 4: Forests & Wine (572 km) – Marsberg to Bad Dürkheim: Rothaar Mountains and Palatinate wine regions.
Section 5: High Watch (573 km) – Bad Dürkheim to Constance: through the Black Forest to the Alps.
Section 6: Alpine Gateway (373 km) – Constance to Oberstdorf: entry into the Allgäu Alps.
Section 7: Alpine Crossing (558 km) – Oberstdorf to Trieste: the most challenging section through the Dolomites and Julian Alps to the Adriatic.

Each section is a standalone adventure for long-distance hikers or part of a complete European thru-hike.

Who is the Trail Suitable For?

An adventure for everyone:

Thru-Hikers / Long Distance Hikers in Europe: 4–6 months of intensive hiking.
Section Hikers: 2–4 weeks to experience a single section.
Casual Explorers: Entry points allow day hikes or the first 50–100 km.

Whether hiking with a dog, traveling in a group, or going solo as a thru-hiker, the Wolf Trail lets you discover Europe your way.