WALKING POINT High Fens SHORT

The nature reserve De Hoge Venen

The Hoge Venen are located between Eupen, Malmédy, and Monschau (Germany). The area is part of the Hoge Venen-Eifel Nature Park, which is protected at the European level as a Natura 2000 area.

The highest point is the Signal de Botrange (694 m), which is also the highest point in Belgium. At this point, you can climb a small tower with a few stairs to a height of precisely 700 meters.

The plateau of the Hoge Venen rests on the oldest rocks in Belgium. They date back to the Cambrian (500 million years ago). This rock has hardened over geological history into quartzite and slate. During your walk, you will find large boulders of hard quartzite dispersed throughout the bog. They are recognizable as gray or yellowish stones with white quartz veins.

The plateau of the Hoge Venen is one of the last areas in Belgium with pristine wilderness. The vegetation consists of raised bog surrounded by pine trees: expansive and bleak plains alternate with the shelter of coniferous forests.

This high plateau experiences 200 days of rainfall and 150 days of mist each year. The Hoge Venen have a cool and wet climate, with Siberian cold temperatures in the winter.

  

When

The Hoge Venen is a nature reserve that is not freely accessible everywhere. The walking route goes through forests (zone A, where you must stay on the paths) and also through bogs (zone B, where you may only walk on marked hiking trails). The route avoids zones C and D, which are not freely accessible. The obligation to stay on the paths does not feel like a limitation at all. After all, this is wilderness: outside the paths, you cannot walk in this marshy heath.

In the summer, walking in the Hoge Venen is pleasant, but during dry periods, you must be careful of fire hazards in the dry heath. A red flag is then hoisted at the access roads, and the nature reserve is closed to hikers.

On the website of the Maison du Parc-Botrange, you will find information about the red flag.

https://botrange.be/acces-aux-fagnes  

In the autumn, the area is generally never closed for hunting, as the Hoge Venen is a nature reserve. However, it is advisable to check in advance whether the walking area is indeed accessible. There may also be nature management works.

On the route planner of Ostbelgien, you will find all information about closures. Zoom in on the area where you are going to walk and click on the icon with the red warning triangle. You can then fill in the date when you are going to walk.

https://www.ostbelgien.eu/nl/wandelen/wandelrouteplanner

In the winter, there is often snow on the high plateau of the Hoge Venen (+600 meters). It’s fantastically beautiful, but the snow attracts an abundance of tourists. The influx can be so great that the area is even closed off. Avoid these snowy weekends and go walking during the work week if you want to enjoy the peace.

  

Start & endpoint

The walk starts and ends at the parking lot of the Baraque Michel, where the eponymous tavern is also located.

  La Baraque Michel, address: La Baraque Michel 36, 4850 Jalhay

By car: there is an abundance of parking, but during snowy weekends, it can be incredibly busy here.

By public transport: travel by train to Eupen. Then take the bus to Baraque Michel.

  

Taverns

Baraque Michel: La Baraque Michel 36, 4850 Jalhay, www.baraquemichel.com 

Le Signal de Botrange: Route de Botrange 133, 4950 Waimes, https://signaldebotrange.be 

La Maison du Parc-Botrange: Route de Botrange 131, 4950 Waimes, https://botrange.be

  

Accommodation

For those who find the Hoge Venen too far for a day trip: you can stay excellently in the youth hostel of Malmédy. You can also have breakfast and dinner there. There is also a nice bar. Next to the youth hostel, there is also a campsite.

https://lesaubergesdejeunesse.be/nl/malmedy 

  

The Walk

The walk starts at the spacious parking lot of Baraque Michel, where you can stop by a tavern for a warm drink before you depart. You cross the wide Rue De Botrange from the parking lot, which runs straight through the Hoge Venen.

You leave the road and immediately walk across the Grande Fagne, the central nature area of the Hoge Venen. The mountain river the Helle quickly turns the bogs into a moist marsh where you wouldn’t be able to keep your feet dry without the many plank paths.

After a while, leave the riverbed and then follow the forest edge for a long distance with a view of the bogs (Fagne Wallonne). The forest edge leads you to a popular viewpoint. Now walk to Rue De Botrange and cross it to Signal de Botrange, the highest point in Belgium (694 m). Climb the tower that the soldier Herman Baltia had built here in 1923 to reach a rounded height of 700 meters. You can have something to drink in the tavern of Signal De Botrange.

The route now goes through pine forests until you reach another bog area (Neûr Lowé) with plank paths. You cross Route De La Baraque Michel and walk briefly through pine forests to reach the next bog area (Fagne de la Polleur). 

Walk through that bog area and then a little through the forest until you reach Baraque Michel. If it is too busy here for a drink, you can drive to the Maison Du Parc-Botrange, where it is generally quieter.

The walk covers more than 99% of unpaved paths. There are no cars in sight, and there is no development. This is wilderness.

  

Longer is also possible

This walk is part of a series of top hikes in Belgium.

More info at www.wandelpunt.be 

If you find this walk too short, opt for the long version (21.2 km): HIKING POINT Hoge Venen