Hiking with your dog in the Gard
Today, make way for a sunny destination, a destination that smells of scrubland, olive oil, honey from the Cévennes, pelardon or even fougasse just out of the oven... And yes, it's the Guard! Musher and I met a Gard duo who have the cani-hiking in the blood. Lynda and Hannah, already present on our instagram account, share with you with great pleasure their most beautiful experiences in the Gard. To plan a holiday or a weekend hike with your dog in the Gard, just follow our two guides! I give the floor to Lynda… With her dog Hannah, they are inseparable.
After several searches to find the dog who was going to share our life and especially adopt our rhythm of life… we opted for a golden retriever. This breed was a no-brainer. Hannah came into our lives like a ray of sunshine on January 8, 2012. I remember it like it was yesterday. She was in her little park, with her brothers… she was climbing on top of them to leave, already with an adventurous soul… Hannah is a working golden retriever, she is a little taller and more slender, her character is also different. She knows what she wants, but also and above all what she doesn't want! By her morphology and her temperament, this makes her a perfect partner for cani-hiking. Our complicity arose quite naturally, through games of course, but also through hiking and especially through hugs… I pay great attention to his facial expressions, which express his needs perfectly. I think we also succeeded in creating a bond through the gaze. Clearly, it is a complicity at all times!
Activities to do with your dog in the Gard
We practice the cani-hiking for a little over 4 years now, since our arrival in the Gard. We try to do at least one hike a week when the weather permits. We choose to take a break from the end of June to the end of September because of the heat. During this period, temperatures can reach 25° in the morning and 40° in the afternoon… far too hot for cani-hiking. Think of protect your dog from heatstroke ! It must be recognized in the Gard we really have fun! My dog loves water so we favor cani-rand'eau as much as possible when we can to please him as much as possible.
Musher and Sophie : “Last summer, I published an article dedicated to this activity. To properly equip your dog and prepare for your outing, I suggest you read or reread the article: Try aquatic hiking with your dog!".
Their favorite dog-friendly places in the Gard
From March / April, we go regularly to the banks of the Gardon, to Collias or the Pont du Gard. Be careful if it has rained a lot or if there is a lot of wind, the Gardon is sometimes treacherous with the current. We also love enjoying the Pont-du-Gard before the tourists arrive. Being able to swim at the foot of such a monument is just magical! In addition, the site is authorized for dogs on a leash. Only the museum and the visit to the aqueduct are prohibited. The site is so big that there is nothing to get bored of. There are countless hikes around the bridge! If you come in the middle of summer, watch out for canoes when swimming with your dog. There are a lot of people on the water...
If you come on holiday to the Gard, don't miss one of the wonders of nature: the Sautadet waterfalls (which means waterfall in Occitan). Indeed, the particularity of the site is the multitude of nests which retain water while forming waterfalls. These waterfalls have the nickname in the region "the Devil's jump" because, despite its beauty, the site can be impressive and dangerous... I very often go to bathe my dog below the waterfalls, this is the quieter and more accessible, without any danger.
City Nîmes, meanwhile, is rather dog-friendly. A large number of the city's historic sites are dog-friendly, such as the mythical arenas of Nîmes or the magical Jardin de la Fontaine built at the request of Louis XV. Also find the exterior of the square house, the interior being a projection of a historical film, it is forbidden to dogs. The historic center is also very pleasant for strolling through the alleys... Finally, the Charles-de-Gaulle esplanade is very popular for its coolness in summer, a real urban garden. You can also very often see “truffinettes” bathing in the waterways that connect Avenue Feuchères to the Gare de Nîmes.
Musher and Sophie: “Musher spotted these little streams in the city. But beware ! The water is treated there, it also smells strongly of chlorine. If your dog bathes in it, a rinse will be welcome. To quench your thirst, it is better to bet on the self-service water terminals all along the avenue Feuchère in the shade of the plane trees.”
I also recommend a fabulous site in the Gard: the Bambouseraie, at the entrance to the Cévennes. A great place for a bowl of freshness when it's very hot. Ranked among the most beautiful gardens in France, this bamboo grove is full of vegetation and very shaded, which is pleasant for dogs. Especially since these are welcome! Also discover the little train of the Cévennes, climb aboard an authentic steam train and discover the Gardons valley and its admirable panoramas during a 13 kilometer journey. To end this day, why not take a little dip in the Gardon in Saint Jean du Gard, 10 minutes from the Bambouseraie?
Then of course, you can find the Gorges du Gardon from Collias to the Pont du Gard, on foot or by canoe. The Gardon nature reserve is authorized for dogs on a leash. We insist on “leashing”, because, if we still want to be able to enjoy this magnificent landscape with our truffinettes, we must respect the places, the fauna, the flora and the hikers. We bring Hannah to bathe there several times a month during the summer for her greatest happiness.
The Gard is a department located between the sea and the mountains, on one side the southern Cévennes and on the other the beaches of the Petite Camargue. To be honest, we don't go to the beach in our department, but rather to the bordering one: La Grande Motte. The reason is very simple, the beautiful beach of Espiguette in Grau du Roi is forbidden to dogs all year round. Even if there is a tolerance outside the summer period, it is still prohibited... La Grande Motte, on the other hand, has a beach for dogs. Regarding the restaurants, we cross our fingers and pattounes, for the moment we have never had any refusal with our dog.
The Gard, close to everything
What you need to know is that the secret of the Gard is to benefit from an exceptional geographical location. Indeed, the Gard is a border department of several regions. The south of the Ardèche where we find the gorges of the Ardèche and its Pont d'Arc. The Vaucluse with the Lubéron and its giant of Provence “Le mont Ventou”. The mouths of the Rhône with Marseille, its creeks and the Alpilles, also 1 hour from Nîmes. And finally, the Hérault with the Navacelle circus and Salagou lake. We can therefore say that we are spoiled!
Lynda's advice for hiking in the Gard with your dog
Hiking is a sport that requires little equipment a priori. A good pair of shoes for us, a necklace and a leash for our dog if we rather want to take short walks around the house. But the hike itself is a bit more demanding for you and your dog's comfort. For him, prefer a harness which clears the top of the shoulders, his water bowl, a leash or a lanyard, for “easy” cani-randos. Then, for cani-rando with elevation gain, plan a traction harness, a stroke line et a harness.
For you, choose hiking shoes, comfortable clothes, a light, but special hiking backpack, because yes, every gram counts when hiking. Remember also of course to take water for you and your dog. Without forgetting A first-aid kit : socks if injuries to the pads, balm for pads, arnica in granule … after that we can always supplement.
It is also necessary to take into account the after hike. Do not hesitate to massage your dog's paws, like us, they can have aches. For my part, I use an oil for post-hike massages suitable for dogs and I also apply a balm on the pads.
The cani-rando it's sharing wonderful moments together and at the same time surpassing oneself in the effort over miles. You have to start gradually if your truffinette is not used to it. Naturally, it will be necessary to spare puppies and old dogs (see our article: A few days of vacation with a senior dog) . Always put your dog's abilities and needs before you. We have already turned around because the course was not suitable for Hannah…
Musher and Sophie: “We too have sometimes turned around. When you go with your dog, you have to respect his abilities and his desires. Musher is dizzy. When the obstacles are too big to pass in the mountains, we have to turn around. I plan to buy her a helicopter harness so I can fix her behind my back and bring her down against me. Thus, we should be able to pass all the obstacles.”
One last piece of advice that I share with you before you start cani-hiking… Be careful during hunting seasons, equip yourself with an armband, hat or other, fluorescent orange. For your dog, there are bandanas or fluorescent vests, with a bell to be identifiable in the garrigue.
I think we can amply thank Lynda and Hannah for this very comprehensive article full of good advice for discovering the Gard and cani-hiking with your dog! You can find this duo on their blog where beautiful photos await you!
Musher and I really want to know this beautiful region and try cani-canoeing in one of the many water points offered by the Gard! Moreover, if you want information on this activity, you can take a look at our article: Canoeing with your dog: a summer must-have !