'Cycling through the Heathland' in the Hoge Kempen National Park is a bikepath of 4 km. You cycle right through Belgium's only National Park and a wooden bicycle bridge of 300 meters takes you higher up to a beautiful panoramic view.

'Cycling through the Heathland' in Hoge Kempen National Park

'Cycling through the Heathland' takes you straight through the Hoge Kempen National Park. In Belgium's only National Park, vast pine forests alternate with endless heathland landscapes. With 'Cycling through the Heathland' in Hoge Kempen National Park you get all this presented on a tray on the new connection between cycle nodes 550 and 551. An exceptional connection, because you cycle across the Mechelse Heide, with 700 hectares one of the largest heathland areas in Flanders. A unique experience on this route is undoubtedly the almost 300 meter long wooden bicycle bridge, a beacon in the landscape. On top of the bridge you get a panoramic view over the natural environment.

I want to go Cycling through the Heathland!

Cycling through the Heathland, that’s carefree pedalling through the most exquisite nature in Limburg. Get started with our online route planner and map out a route via cycle nodes 550-551 in Maasmechelen.

Why not making it easy for yourself? To pamper you even more, we have already mapped out some ready-made cycling routes for you. You start at one of the ‘Toegangspoorten’ (entrance gates) of the Hoge Kempen National Park along the route.

Cycle routes Cycling through the Heathland

Fietsen door het Water en Fietsen door de Heide

Cycling through Water and Cycling through Heathland

56 km

One is never enough! You’ll savour two exceptional cycling experiences in a journey through Central Limburg on this cycling tour. Starting at the C-mine in Genk, we’ll first head for the Hoge Kempen National Park. We’ll enter the park at the Kattevennen Gate.
Onontgonnen fietsgenot

Untapped cycling pleasure

34 km

This gently undulating cycling route takes you through the Hoge Kempen National Park. This region has been shaped by its past as an industrial mining and gravel extraction site. From Terhills, the former mine site of Eisden, it goes straight through the garden district to the Mechelse Heide.
De Mechelse Heide in het Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Past heathland and panoramic views

37 km

A gently sloping cycle route that takes you through shady pine forests and purple heather landscapes. The decor? The Hoge Kempen National Park with its unspoiled landscapes. You start at Kattevennen in Genk where you can explore the universe in the Cosmodrome. At Station As, you climb the watchtower for a panoramic view of the National Park.
Een groep fietsers in de bossen van Kattevennen in Genk

The beating heart of the Hoge Kempen

38 km

Artfully crafted locomotives at As Station are the starting point for a cycling tour through the Hoge Kempen National Park. It first heads through shady forests in the direction of Waterschei. The old mining site, now known as Thor Park, is a green area with an amazing industrial heritage.
Paarse heide in het Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen

Purple splendor

52 km

A cycling route with flat lanes and some tough climbs through shady pine forests, purple heather landscapes, and straight through the Hoge Kempen National Park.
Fietsers bij de Waterburcht Pietersheim bij Lanaken

Surprising views

57 km

A cycling route with plane paths and some tough climbs though shady pine forests, purple heather landscapes, and right through the Hoge Kempen National Park.

Arriving by car?

It is not possible to park your car nearby 'Cycling through the Heathland' in Hoge Kempen National Park, it is even prohibited. The ‘Toegangspoorten’ (entrance gates) of the Hoge Kempen National Park are the ideal starting point for those arriving by car. In most cases you will also find tourist information, catering and bike rental here. So leave your car at one of the Toegangspoorten and from there follow the cycling nodes in the direction of route 550-551.

Where your car waits for you while you’re cycling:

Arriving by train? Great!

From Genk train station you can easily acces one of our routes in the direction of 'Cycling through the Heathland' in Hoge Kempen National Park. The shortest connection? 250-30-29-534-251-252-550 (13km)

Rent a bike? Of course that's possible!

If you can’t bring you own bike, you can always rent one. The nearest bicycle rental point is at Domein Pietersheim. Make sure to book in advance.

'Cycling through the Heathland' in Hoge Kempen National Park is a project of Visit Limburg, the marketing organization responsible for promoting tourism in Limburg. Everything was done in collaboration with the Province of Limburg, Limburg Sterk Merk, Visit Flanders, the municipality of Maasmechelen, the Woodland Agency and the Regional Landscape Hoge Kempen & Maasland.

Visit Limburg creates an extra layer on top of the existing cycling route network with unique cycling experiences such as 'Cycling through Water' in Bokrijk, 'Cycling through the Trees' in Bosland and 'Cycling through the Heathland' in Hoge Kempen National Park. The next cycling experience? 'Cycling Underground' in Kanne.

 

 

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