The Coal Railway used to be the connector between the 7 coal mines in Belgian Limburg. Trains have now been replaced by bicycles, as the railway bed between Zonhoven and Genk (to the southwest) and between As and Maaseik has long been converted into a bike path. Between Genk and As, however, this has not yet happened, but the reconstruction of this section into a bike path has begun, along the KRC Genk stadium. In any case, the cycling infrastructure in Belgian Limburg is great; it's a pleasure to ride here, especially with blooming heather in August (and early September) in the nature reserves De Teut and Ten Haagedoornheide.

The route starts in Opitter, and you ride directly to the Kempens Plateau over the ascent of the Steenberg, followed by a few short descents and ascents. Afterwards, you cycle through quiet streets and separate bike paths (alternating through nature reserves and agricultural areas) heading west. Just north of Helchteren, you reach the Bike Fast Track F74 (Hasselt - Pelt), which you follow southwards. At many intersections, cyclists have priority over other traffic. After passing under the E314, you leave the F74 and turn onto the Coal Railway. You follow the Coal Railway to Genk, but unlike the F74, you have to yield to traffic crossing the bike path on the Coal Railway. You also pass the nature reserve De Teut.

After that, you cycle along bike paths next to the thoroughfares in a bypass around Genk (actually around Zwartberg and Houthalen-Oost), passing by the Engelhof Castle and over a separate bike path through the Ten Haagedoornheide. The bike paths next to the thoroughfares are not bothersome for cycling: the road surface is excellent, and the bike paths are often wide. Through the nature reserve Klaverberg, you have now arrived north of Genk, cycling on separate bike paths through the woods to As. Near As, you briefly follow the thoroughfare, then land back on the Coal Railway at the former station of As.

The route leaves the Coal Railway again immediately (you do not follow the Coal Railway to Maaseik), but you cycle over good separated bike paths through the Mechelse Heide to Nieuw-Homo, descending steeply for a short distance to the Terhills Resort, then cycling between the landfills over water: a pontoon bike path over the Grote Plas. After that, you follow bike paths along the thoroughfares for several kilometers, then climb back up to the Kempens Plateau. After descending along the thoroughfare, you ride car-free along the nature reserve Bergersven and then climb over a ridge. You cycle through Waterloos to the forests south of Opitter, ending up back in Opitter on separated bike paths and quiet roads.

If in 2025 the Coal Railway between Genk and As is converted into a bike path, I will adjust this route and lead it over this new section of bike path.