The Gendarme Path

On the Gendarmstien, you can follow the coast of Sønderjylland through forests and open countryside. The route stretches for approximately 84 kilometres from Padborg to Skovby and is signposted in both directions.

The Gendarmstien is Denmark’s first walking route to be certified as a Leading Quality Trail, Best of Europe. The sections from Padborg to Høruphav achieved this certification in 2015. In autumn 2016, the trail was extended from Høruphav to Skovby, and in 2018 the entire walking route achieved LQT certification.

LQT stands for Leading Quality Trail, Best of Europe. The certification sets out a number of quality requirements for walking routes.

Follow in the footsteps of the border gendarmes

The Gendarmstien is named after the border gendarmes who once patrolled the national border and monitored shipping along the coast.

The gendarmes patrolled on foot, and each gendarme was responsible for a specific section of the border. In some places, they were able to use existing paths and roads. In others, new paths were laid out across private land. This is how the Gendarmstien was created.

The border gendarmes patrolled along the current border from the Reunification in 1920 until 1958, when the task was handed over to the police.

Find your way along the Gendarmstien

The Gendarmstien is signposted in both directions. If you prefer a digital map, you can download the Naturlandet app from the App Store or Google Play.

Plan your hike

On the Gendarmstien website, you can find information on, amongst other things, rules for using the trail, accommodation options and providers of luggage transport packages.

Unfortunately, the interactive map is currently out of service and work is underway on a new solution. Whilst this work is underway, a temporary page has been set up to help you plan your walking holiday on the Gendarmstien.

Online booking of guidebooks temporarily closed

We are currently in the process of changing our booking system, and as a result it is temporarily not possible to book guidebooks and maps online. We apologise for the inconvenience and are working to reopen the booking service as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or need help, you are always welcome to contact us at info@dssj.dk

Last updated on 22 September 2026.