A new 2,000-mile hike connecting six countries from Poland’s Baltic coast to Italy’s Adriatic Sea has now launched in Europe.
The Wolf Trail traverses Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia on a route designed by the German outdoor gear company, Jack Wolfskin.
It stretches approximately 3,493 kilometres (2,170 miles), with hikers climbing 78.416 metres (257ft) in elevation – equivalent to around nine times the height of Mount Everest.
The full route takes four to six months, with seven individual sections for shorter day hikes connecting European trails, including the E1, E9, and the Via Alpina, into a continuous route.
It officially opened to hikers in late 2025 as a combination of existing paths.
The Wolf Trail uses forest paths and alpine tracks to pass sandy coasts, pine forests and rugged limestone landscapes in the Alps.
Highlights of the route include sand dunes in Słowiński National Park, ancient beech forests along the Baltic Sea and hikes through the Black Forest and the Dolomites.
According to the Jack Wolfskin brand: “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.
The Wolf Trail sections
- Baltic Start (270 miles) – Hel to Świnoujście: coastal forests and endless sandy beaches
- Rivers and Plains (330 miles) – Usedom to Geesthacht: Mecklenburg coast and the Elbe Valley
- The Green Heart (300 miles) – Geesthacht to Marsberg: Lüneburg Heath and gentle, forested hills
- Forests and Wine (355 miles) – Marsberg to Bad Dürkheim: Rothaar Mountains and Palatinate wine regions
- High Watch (355 miles) – Bad Dürkheim to Constance: through the Black Forest to the Alps
- Alpine Gateway (230 miles) – Constance to Oberstdorf: entry into the Allgäu Alps
- Alpine Crossing (345 miles) – Oberstdorf to Trieste: the most challenging section through the Dolomites and Julian Alps to the Adriatic
