Valley of the Hoëgne

The valley of the Hoëgne is a well known hiking route, a few minutes from Verviers: it is a romantic, beautiful, wild, adventurous and popular walk that is well maintained with numerous bridges and mini waterfalls. And even during the Belle Epoque, the Hoëgne was popular with the rich nobility: this wild valley was depicted as "just as adventurous as Congo"!
At the beginning of the 20th century, Léonard Legras, an old resident of Sart, was the promoter of hiking in the Hoëgne valley. A memorial plaque commemorating Léonard Legras is close to the waterfall Léopold II, unveiled by Queen Marie Henriette in 1899.
The hike of the Hoëgne is well known.
The walk is 7km long, count on about 3 hours.
Follow the E42 motorway towards Verviers and Sankt-Vith and take exit 9 to Sart. Then turn left and follow Rue Roquez until you see a sign with Passerelle de Belle Heid and Hoëgne. Here you turn left until you reach the car park. You actually drive through the river to get here!
From the car park you follow the path that runs along the river. Take your time as you pass some beautiful waterfalls and nice bridges. The path is not tiring and goes up a little bit but not too challenging. You do need good walking shoes because there are often protruding tree roots and when it rains it can get muddy. There is also a nice place to relax near Cascade de Leopold. After 4 km you reach the Passerelle du Centenaire. A bridge where they have made a little effort to make them look fun. Here you turn left and take the next road again. Follow this road until a path goes down to the left again that takes you back to the river and back to the parking.

Willem Vandenameele