National Park Trail - 110km

The National Park Trail is a long-distance walk of 110km, which shows you the most beautiful places of the Hoge Kempen National Park. The National Park Trail has a lot of surprises in store: Seven climbs, vast heathland, beautiful fens, wide lakes, dunes and fragrant forests. It is one of the few walks in Flanders where you see little buildings and / or traffic for more than 100 km.

The National Park Trail will be freely accessible from June 2022. Then you can walk the 110km as you want; You determine the number of stages, the direction, the start, and the number of kilometers. You can choose to walk the full loop of 110km or shorter variants.

www.nationalparktrail.be

The National Park Trail can be hiked in 3 ways:

With the map: An exclusive National Park topographic map leads you along the National Park Trail. You can buy the card here for 10€.

Signage: The entire trail is signposted in two directions. You simply follow these signs to complete the 110km loop.

GPS/GPX: With the gpx file on your hiking GPS or your smartphone

The five basic stages

Do you really want to see all the highlights of the Hoge Kempen National Park? Then of course you have to do the entire walking loop / trail of 110km. We recommend splitting it into 4 or 5 days. We have already worked out the ideal stages for you. Each stage starts and ends at a gateway of the Hoge Kempen National Park where all facilities are provided: spacious parking, information boards, toilets and catering. Both around the entrance gates and on the way on the trail there are always accommodations nearby to spend the night. There is something for everyone: hotels, campsites, B&Bs, holiday parks, pole camping, holiday homes and more. Something for everyone.

Approach route: Station GENK – KATTEVENNEN (3.8 km)
Via the Molenvijverpark and the forest you can quickly reach Kattevennen, official starting point of the National Park Trail.

Stage 1: KATTEVENNEN - PIETERSHEIM (23.8 km)
You mainly walk through vast forests on the southernmost foothills of the Kempens Plateau. The Papendaalheide and lake provide variety.

Stage 2: PIETERSHEIM - TERHILLS (23.9 km)
You walk from south to north on the edge of the Kempens Plateau, and get acquainted with the heathland and the Ziepbeek valley. On the Mechelen heath you can enjoy views and the first hills.

Stage 3: TERHILLS - DUINENGORDEL (22,6 km)
Just like the previous stage, it runs from south to north over the edge of the Kempens Plateau. You start with three climbs, and trek through the Dilserbos to Bergerven and the Bosbeek.

Stage 4: DUINENGORDEL - THORPARK (26,8 km)
You start with a series of land dunes and fens. Then you trek through heath and forest to the mine terrils of Thorpark for beautiful views.

Stage 5: THORPARK - KATTEVENNEN (11 km)
Via the Stiemerbeek valley and forest area you come back to Kattevennen.