Motorhome with a Dog in the Eifel

The Eifel is one of those regions of Germany that are deliberately kept quieter in tourist terms than many better-known destinations - and that is exactly what makes it so pleasant for a motorhome trip with a dog. Gentle, forested hills, mysterious volcanic lakes known as maars, and a dense network of hiking trails where you rarely encounter large crowds, even during the summer holidays. For dogs that appreciate peace and plenty of exercise, the Eifel is an insider tip that is still far less overrun than, say, the Black Forest or the Alpine regions further south.

Geologically, the Eifel is volcanic in origin, which still shows in the landscape today: circular maars, the water-filled craters of extinct volcanoes, shape many of the region's most beautiful hiking routes. Add to that extensive forests, gentle ranges of hills and small, unhurried villages where a dog on a leash hardly attracts attention.

This guide gives you a practical overview of getting there, a possible route, specific destinations and tips for the road. Keep in mind that rules on leash requirements in nature reserves, at the maars or at individual pitches can vary from place to place. So check locally before planning a route in detail.

Getting There & Pitches

The Eifel lies between Cologne, Trier and the Belgian border and is easy to reach via the A1, A48 and A60. Its central location also makes the region attractive as a base for a shorter, spontaneous motorhome trip, since many of the most beautiful destinations can be reached after just a short drive.

Pitches in the Eifel are often quietly situated at the edge of a forest or near one of the numerous maars, allowing short distances to hikes. Since the region is less overrun by tourists than other German destinations, pitches are usually available even during the summer holidays without much advance planning - even so, it's worth checking the respective rules on off-leash areas on the grounds before booking.

Dog-Friendly Highlights & Hikes

The Eifel's trail network is characterised by gentle climbs, dense forests and the maars that give the region its name and turn many circular trails into something special.

The Volcanic Eifel around Daun is known for its maars, several of which can be hiked via well-developed circular trails. These routes are usually not too long and manageable in terms of fitness, yet offer an unusual, almost mystical landscape - dense forest that suddenly opens onto a circular, deep-blue lake. For dogs that enjoy running along the water's edge, these circular trails are particularly attractive, though you should check on site exactly where a short access to the water is possible and permitted for your dog.

The Eifel National Park in the north of the region offers extensive forests with a well-developed trail network that is excellent for longer day tours with a dog. As in most German national parks, leashes are generally required here, partly to protect wildlife such as the reintroduced wildcat. Find out exactly which trails are accessible for dogs before your tour.

Beyond the better-known destinations, it's worth taking a look at the region's numerous castles and viewpoints, many of them with comparatively short approaches. Eltz Castle, the ruins around Manderscheid or the view from the Hocheifel offer compact but rewarding outings that combine well with a longer hike on the same day.

• The maar circular trails near Daun are manageable in terms of fitness and scenically special
• The Eifel National Park offers extensive forest hikes with a leash requirement
• Castles and viewpoints with short approaches complement longer hikes well
• Little tourist activity keeps the region pleasantly quiet even in high season

Best Time to Travel

April to October is a good time for a trip with a dog to the Eifel. The region lies in a temperate low mountain range, so summers rarely get extremely hot - pleasant for dogs that don't cope well with heat. Spring brings fresh greenery and usually still modest visitor numbers, autumn an impressive display of foliage in the forests around the maars.

In winter, the Eifel can turn genuinely wintry, with snow and frost at higher elevations. Some pitches then reduce their operations, and certain hiking trails can become slippery or hard to walk. For a relaxed motorhome trip with a dog, the time between spring and autumn therefore remains the clear favourite.

Sample Route for 5–7 Days

A possible route runs from Cologne via the Volcanic Eifel around Daun, the Eifel National Park and Monschau, with plenty of time for hikes at the maars and in the national park.

Stage 1: Cologne as a Starting Point

Starting in or near Cologne offers an uncomplicated beginning before the drive leads into the quieter parts of the Eifel. Use the first day to let yourself and your dog slowly settle into the travel rhythm.

Stages 2 to 3: Volcanic Eifel Around Daun

The region around Daun, with its numerous maars, offers several destinations for extended circular hikes at once. Plan at least two days for this section so that, alongside a bigger hike, you also have time for quieter, shorter walks at one of the smaller maars.

Stages 4 to 5: Eifel National Park

The national park in the north of the region offers extensive forest areas for longer day tours. Check on site which trails are currently open to dogs and allow enough time for one or more longer hikes.

Stages 6 to 7: Monschau and the Way Back

The historic town of Monschau, with its half-timbered centre, offers a quiet wind-down to the trip before heading back towards Cologne. The surrounding hills are well suited to one last, relaxed hike with your dog before the drive home.

Practical Tips with Your Dog

The dense forests of the Eifel, like other low mountain regions, are a favoured habitat for ticks. Check your dog thoroughly after every longer forest tour, especially paws, ears and belly. Tick tweezers or a tick card belong in the motorhome, and if you're unsure about tick protection or vaccinations for the region, it's worth talking to your vet beforehand.

Be especially careful at the maars if your dog wants to get to the water - the banks can drop off steeply in places, and a safe, permitted access to the water is not available everywhere. Find out on site where dogs can get to the water, and keep a close eye on your dog at the shore.

• Tick check after every forest tour, especially from spring to autumn
• Caution at steep maar banks if your dog wants to get to the water
• Plan on a leash requirement in the Eifel National Park as a matter of course
• Take enough water for longer forest tours, even though streams are frequent

Border Region with Belgium and Luxembourg

The western Eifel reaches as far as the borders with Belgium and Luxembourg, which makes short cross-border trips possible without major detours. The Belgian High Fens, with their moorland landscapes, offer a completely different hiking atmosphere from the forested hills of the German Eifel and fit well into a longer route as a day trip. Bear in mind that in moorland areas you are often strictly required to stay on the trails, both for nature conservation reasons and because of the partly swampy ground away from the marked paths.

Food, Drink and Short Breaks Along the Way

Many inns and cafés in the small villages of the Eifel are used to hikers with dogs and offer outdoor areas where dogs are welcome - but the exact rules vary from establishment to establishment, so it makes sense to ask briefly before sitting down. For longer hikes, always take enough water for your dog, even though the region has no shortage of streams and smaller bodies of water.

Always Check the Rules Locally

The Eifel is shaped by many individual nature reserves, maars and the national park, each with its own rules on dogs. This overview cannot cover such detailed regulations for every single place. So before each stage, check briefly on the spot - with the national park administration, the tourist information office or directly with the pitch operator - which rules currently apply.

Smaller Places and Stopovers Away from the Main Routes

Beyond the better-known destinations around Daun, the national park and Monschau, it's worth taking a look at the smaller villages of the Eifel, for instance in the southern Eifel around Bitburg or in the Schneifel area near the Belgian border. These areas see even less tourism than the rest of the already quiet region and accordingly offer peaceful hiking trails through forest and open, rolling countryside. For a motorhome trip with a dog, it pays to deliberately plan the route not just around the most famous maars, but to include stopovers in smaller communities as well.

The region's numerous castles and ruins - such as Manderscheid with its two castles or the Genovevaburg in Mayen - can often be reached via a short, family-friendly approach and work well as a compact stopover between two longer hikes. Many of the viewpoints offer wide views over the Eifel's gently rolling hills without requiring a demanding climb.

Things to See on Rainy Days in the Eifel

Not every day in the Eifel is dry, especially in a low mountain region with changeable weather. On rainy days, shorter forest walks are a good option, as the dense tree cover offers a degree of shelter as long as no storm comes with it. Alternatively, such days are well suited to planning the rest of the route, visiting one of the small villages with their cafés, or simply spending a quiet day at the pitch with your dog before the next stage begins.

Experience the Eifel with the Right Motorhome

For a trip through the Eifel, it's worth choosing a motorhome with plenty of storage for hiking gear, a quiet retreat for your dog after longer tours and reliable heating for cooler nights in the low mountain elevations. On Pfotentour you'll find a selection of dog-friendly motorhomes from various hosts, perfect for a relaxed route through the Eifel without a long drive to get there.