Gran San Bernardo Dog Trail

Date, Route, and Elevation Gain

The event is scheduled for September 25, 2027, with the race starting at 10 a.m. from the Étroubles park. The race will cover a course of approximately 13 kilometers, with 1,284 meters of elevation gain and 105 meters of elevation loss, passing through the towns of Étroubles, Saint-Oyen, and Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, along a section of the Via Francigena to the Great St. Bernard Pass.

The trail does not include any particularly challenging sections, but it does require the dog-handler team to be in good physical condition, partly due to the elevation gain and the alpine environment. The minimum elevation is 1,260 meters, while the maximum reaches 2,457 meters.

Registration is now open.

Refreshment Stops, Medical Stations, and the Finish Line

The midway refreshment station will be set up in Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, in the Prosciuttificio area, at kilometer 7, with a medical and veterinary station; a time barrier is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The finish line will be at the Great St. Bernard Pass, with refreshments available in the former customs house and a final veterinary check. The post-race gathering and awards ceremony will once again take place in Étroubles, in the green area near the multipurpose hall at the tennis center.

The Destination Barry Project

The Great St. Bernard Dog Trail is part of the activities of Destination Barry, an Interreg Italy-Switzerland project created to promote a cross-border tourist destination linked to the figure of Barry, the St. Bernard dog, and to mountain vacations with one’s own dog. The project is led by the City of Aosta and involves, among other partners, the Fondation Barry du Grand-Saint-Bernard and the Aosta Valley municipalities of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, Saint-Oyen, and Étroubles.

The Rules of the Dog Trail

The sport of dog trail focuses on the partnership between humans and dogs. The handler must adjust their pace to match that of the dog, without dragging or pushing it, while respecting the dog’s well-being and the mountain environment.

Dogs must have valid veterinary certificates, be microchipped, and be properly registered with the dog registry. Dogs must be kept on a leash attached to an elastic waistband no longer than 2 meters, and a muzzle must be carried. Participants must also carry bags for picking up dog waste and an adequate supply of water for their pet.

This project is co-financed by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund, the Italian government, the Revolving Fund, the Swiss Confederation, and the cantons as part of the Interreg VI-A Italy-Switzerland Cooperation Program. Destination Barry Project.