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Best Forest Hikes in Flanders

There are 9 hikes in Flanders in our database that fit. They average 8.3 km and 183 m (600 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 25.3 km.

That is 1 percent of the 939 routes we map in Flanders. They are shorter than the local average, 8.3 km against 12.5 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 183 m (600 ft) against 276 m (906 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Forest trails are the dependable choice: shade when it is hot, shelter when it is not, and a completely different character once the leaves turn. The mix is broad: 4 are rated easy and 1 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.

Trails

Easy

Mechels Bos Oranje bol

Hoge Kempen National Park · Flanders

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
123 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Mechels Bos Paarse trapezium

Hoge Kempen National Park · Flanders

Distance
8.6 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
2 hr 4 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Mechels Bos aanlooproute

Hoge Kempen National Park · Flanders

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
12 m
Typical duration
8 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Mechels bos Groene rechthoek

Hoge Kempen National Park · Flanders

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
82 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Ad's Path

Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden · Flanders

Distance
25.3 km
/ 15.7 mi
Elevation gain
557 m
Typical duration
6 hr 25 min
  • Forest
Moderate

Bruggeskeswandeling

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
9.8 km
/ 6.1 mi
Elevation gain
216 m
Typical duration
2 hr 22 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Domeinwandeling

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Door bos en hei

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
164 m
Typical duration
1 hr 48 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Drevenpad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
5.1 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
112 m
Typical duration
1 hr 14 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Eikenpad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
101 m
Typical duration
1 hr 6 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Geitenmelkerspad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
4.9 km
/ 3.0 mi
Elevation gain
107 m
Typical duration
1 hr 11 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Ginstepad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
10.7 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
236 m
Typical duration
2 hr 35 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Hoevepad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
48 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Kabouterpad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Lokketissepad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
187 m
Typical duration
2 hr 3 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Markebeekpad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
94 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Moeraspad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
81 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Forest
Easy

Wandelpad Bos

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
3.5 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
76 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
La Butte aux Bois Groene rechthoekHoge Kempen National Park5.3 km118 m1 hr 17 minEasyApril to October
La Butte aux Bois Paarse trapeziumHoge Kempen National Park11.2 km247 m2 hr 42 minModerateApril to October
Mechels Bos Oranje bolHoge Kempen National Park5.6 km123 m1 hr 21 minEasyApril to October
Mechels Bos Paarse trapeziumHoge Kempen National Park8.6 km188 m2 hr 4 minModerateApril to October
Mechels Bos aanlooprouteHoge Kempen National Park0.5 km12 m8 minEasyApril to October
Mechels bos Groene rechthoekHoge Kempen National Park3.7 km82 m54 minEasyApril to October
Ad's PathNationaal Park Brabantse Wouden25.3 km557 m6 hr 25 minHardApril to October
BruggeskeswandelingFlanders9.8 km216 m2 hr 22 minModerateApril to October
Connection Markebeekpad-PreshoekpadFlanders2.4 km52 m34 minEasyApril to October
DomeinwandelingFlanders3.7 km81 m53 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Mechels Bos aanlooproute, Mechels Bos Paarse trapezium, La Butte aux Bois Groene rechthoek. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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