Four Pyrenees hikes where your dog is welcome (and will enjoy it as much as you do)

Difficulty: low. Distance: 6 km round trip. Elevation gain: under 100 m. Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours.

If there's one route that justifies the trip to the Lleida Pyrenees for anyone just starting out, or travelling with an older or less fit dog, it's this one. The trail around the Estany de Llebreta starts from the car park at Farga de Dalt, in the municipality of Boí, and follows the course of the river Sant Nicolau along a wide, nearly flat dirt track, surrounded by fir and black pine. In autumn the forest turns into an orange and yellow carpet that makes any photo look good with zero effort.

The lake appears suddenly at the end of the trail, still and a very cold shade of blue that barely looks real. It's the kind of view that makes people go quiet. Your four-legged companion will especially appreciate it: the path has near-constant shade, there's river water accessible at several points, and the terrain doesn't demand tough claws or weathered paw pads. For older dogs, ones in recovery, or simply for anyone who'd rather enjoy the view without breaking a sweat, this is the option.

Important note: Estany de Llebreta lies within the surroundings of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. Dogs cannot enter the national park's core area; the route described here runs through the access zone and perimeter. Always check the current rules before you go.

Difficulty: medium. Distance: 12 km round trip. Elevation gain: 550 m. Duration: 4 to 5 hours.

If we had to pick just one route in the Aragonese Pyrenees to take a dog on, it would be this one. Valle de Hecho, in the province of Huesca, is one of the least crowded Pyrenean valleys, with a landscape of oak and beech woods that turns red and ochre in autumn. Selva de Oza — the beech forest that opens the route — is a destination in itself: a wood of centuries-old beeches that the wind moves with a sound straight out of a film, crossed by the river Aragón Subordán.

The path climbs from the Selva de Oza car park following the river for the first few kilometres, with a gentle gradient and comfortable terrain. From there it starts gaining height towards the Ibón de Acherito, a glacial lake that opens up suddenly in a limestone rock cirque at around 1,875 metres. The views from up there — the Acher peak in the background, the Pyrenean wall to the north — are the kind that make the climb feel like nothing.

For the dog, Valle de Hecho is close to ideal: outside the national park, with no access restrictions for animals, and with river water available from the start almost all the way to the top. The terrain higher up has some loose stone, nothing dramatic, but it helps if the dog has some mountain experience or at least tough paw pads. Aroa, our Iberian sighthound, powered up the last steep stretches faster than we did and reached the top as fresh as if she'd just had a nap.

Difficulty: medium-high. Distance: 16 km round trip. Elevation gain: 650 m. Duration: 5 to 6 hours.

Benasque is the capital of Pyrenean high-mountain terrain and the starting point for some of the range's most spectacular routes. Lago Cregüeña is one of the most photogenic hikes you can do with a dog in the area: a high-mountain lake at 2,620 metres, ringed by peaks around three thousand metres, with the Aneto massif visible on clear days in the background.

Access starts at La Besurta, reached by the shuttle buses that run from the Hospital de Benasque car park between June and October — private access to the valley is restricted in high season to protect the area. From La Besurta the trail follows the classic approach route to the Aneto for the first few kilometres, then branches off towards Lago Cregüeña along a well-signposted path. The final stretch has exposed rock and a bit of gradient; it's not technical, but it does call for both hiker and dog to be used to mountain terrain.

The view from the lake is worth every metre of the climb. The water has that shade between green and blue that only summer meltwater gives, and the silence at that altitude is the kind you feel in your chest. Aroa drank half the lake before we could stop her, which is one way of saying that high-mountain water is, in her opinion, clearly superior to anything else. For this route it's worth carrying your own water, a solid snack, and checking the forecast the day before: at that altitude the weather turns quickly and a summer storm can arrive without warning.

Difficulty: high. Distance: 20 km round trip. Elevation gain: 1,100 m. Duration: 7 to 8 hours.

For many Pyrenean hikers, Valle de Pineta is the most beautiful valley in all of Ordesa. What looks in photos like a film set — a green plain ringed by vertical walls over a thousand metres high, with Monte Perdido presiding over the far end — is exactly that in real life: one of those places that makes you wonder if you're really still in Spain.

The classic route climbs from the Parador de Bielsa up to the Balcón de Pineta, a natural ledge that overlooks the whole valley in a single sweep. It packs 1,100 metres of elevation gain into the first part of the walk, with stretches of loose stone and plenty of sun exposure in summer. It's the most demanding route in this guide and calls for real preparation: experienced hikers, stiff-soled boots, and a dog who already has some mountain miles on their paws.

As for the rules around dogs: Valle de Pineta lies within Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, where dogs must be kept on a leash at all times inside the protected area and can't access certain zones of the park. The route to the Balcón runs through the interior of the park; check the current regulations before you go and follow the signage on site. That said, the climb on a leash is perfectly doable, and the view from the Balcón in the late afternoon — with Monte Perdido's shadow slowly creeping across the green of the valley — is one that's not easily forgotten.

The Pyrenees are serious mountains, and with a four-legged companion there are details that go unnoticed in the city but matter a lot up here.

Water: always carry more than you think you'll need, for both of you. Mountain streams and springs are plentiful on most routes, but they're not always where you need them, especially higher up. A folding travel water bowl takes up no room and earns its keep for the whole trip.

Ticks: in spring and well into summer, the low and mid Pyrenees — beech woods, fern patches, grazing areas — have ticks. Checking your dog when you get home is non-negotiable: coat, armpits, groin, ears. If your dog's parasite prevention isn't up to date, this is the moment to sort it before you leave.

Leash in national parks: in both Aigüestortes and Ordesa y Monte Perdido, the leash is mandatory at all times within the protected area. It's not optional — it's a regulatory requirement. It also makes complete sense in environments with wildlife — chamois, marmots, griffon vultures — that don't need the added stress of a loose dog.

Mountain huts: most Pyrenean mountain refuges allow dogs, but usually outside or in the covered entrance area, not inside. If you're planning a multi-day trek with a night at a refuge, check directly before you go: each one has its own policy, and some don't allow dogs in high season.

Paws: the limestone of the Aragonese Pyrenees and the granite rock around Benasque are harder than city pavement. If your companion isn't used to uneven terrain, start with flat routes like Estany de Llebreta before adding elevation gain and exposed rock.

The Pyrenees have one of the longest-established networks of rural cottages in Spain, and the culture of the dog as a travel companion runs deep in the mountain areas. The vast majority of rural lodgings — especially in valleys like Hecho, Ansó, Benasque or Valle de Boí — welcome dogs at no extra charge and with outdoor space where they can rest after a hike.

What sets apart a place that merely tolerates the dog from one that's actually built for travelling with them: a fenced garden or safe outdoor area, being able to wash muddy paws on arrival without it turning into a whole ordeal, and not having to hide them in the room. Always search with that in mind, and confirm the size and number of dogs when you book: some lodgings have weight or headcount limits.

Around Benasque, the lodgings out in the valley — a reasonable distance from the town centre — tend to have more room than the ones right in town. In Valle de Hecho, the rural cottages in the town itself have mountain-village charm and direct access to hiking trails from the door. In Valle de Boí, the proximity to Aigüestortes Park makes any base practical, with several traditional farmhouses offering gardens and generous outdoor space.