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Hard Hiking Trails in Flanders

We track 90 routes that match this search in Flanders. They average 72.0 km and 1,585 m (5,200 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 483 km.

That is 10 percent of the 939 routes we map in Flanders. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 72.0 km against 12.5 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,585 m (5,200 ft) on average versus 276 m (906 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Expert

Martinusroute

Nationaal Park Scheldevallei · Flanders

Distance
35.1 km
/ 21.8 mi
Elevation gain
773 m
Typical duration
9 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

National Park Trail (hoofdtraject)

Hoge Kempen National Park · Flanders

Distance
109 km
/ 67.5 mi
Elevation gain
2,389 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Limburgica

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
142 km
/ 88.2 mi
Elevation gain
3,121 m
Typical duration
38 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Monastica

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
224 km
/ 139 mi
Elevation gain
4,922 m
Typical duration
60 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Via Tenera

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
235 km
/ 146 mi
Elevation gain
5,180 m
Typical duration
63 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 12 Variant West

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
59.0 km
/ 36.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,297 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 122 Scheldeland

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
169 km
/ 105 mi
Elevation gain
3,709 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 126 Brussegem - Mariekerke

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
33.0 km
/ 20.5 mi
Elevation gain
727 m
Typical duration
8 hr 31 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 5 Belgium, Flanders North

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
64.8 km
/ 40.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,426 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 5 Belgium, Flanders South

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
195 km
/ 121 mi
Elevation gain
4,295 m
Typical duration
52 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 561 Kempen - Maaspad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
224 km
/ 139 mi
Elevation gain
4,935 m
Typical duration
60 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 564

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
168 km
/ 104 mi
Elevation gain
3,694 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GR 565 Sniederspad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
99.1 km
/ 61.6 mi
Elevation gain
2,180 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GRT-BVW 24 Mélin - Aubechies

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
165 km
/ 103 mi
Elevation gain
3,630 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

E2 West Sectie GR 5A - GR 565

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
21.3 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
468 m
Typical duration
5 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Kust

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
104 km
/ 64.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,280 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Coastal
  • Mountain
  • 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
Hard

GR 128 Variant Sint-Truiden

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
16.8 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
370 m
Typical duration
4 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Hard

Stads-GR Antwerpen Rondom

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
24.2 km
/ 15.0 mi
Elevation gain
533 m
Typical duration
6 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GRP 127 Tour du Brabant wallon

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
270 km
/ 168 mi
Elevation gain
5,931 m
Typical duration
72 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GRP 563 Tour du Pays de Herve

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
160 km
/ 99.3 mi
Elevation gain
3,516 m
Typical duration
42 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Graaf van Hornepad

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
91.0 km
/ 56.5 mi
Elevation gain
2,002 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Mol-Om

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
89.6 km
/ 55.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,972 m
Typical duration
23 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Dijleland

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
131 km
/ 81.1 mi
Elevation gain
2,872 m
Typical duration
34 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Groene Gordel

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
158 km
/ 98.3 mi
Elevation gain
3,479 m
Typical duration
42 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Hageland

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
158 km
/ 97.9 mi
Elevation gain
3,467 m
Typical duration
42 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Netevalleien

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
60.6 km
/ 37.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,334 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Noorderkempen

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
172 km
/ 107 mi
Elevation gain
3,773 m
Typical duration
46 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Streek-GR Vlaamse Ardennen

Flanders · Belgium

Distance
168 km
/ 105 mi
Elevation gain
3,706 m
Typical duration
45 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path

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
MartinusrouteNationaal Park Scheldevallei35.1 km773 m9 hr 5 minExpertApril to October
PeerkePad - 3 - Berg aan de Maas-BreeHoge Kempen National Park26.7 km587 m6 hr 47 minHardApril to October
National Park Trail (hoofdtraject)Hoge Kempen National Park109 km2,389 m29 hrExpertApril to October
European long distance path E9 - B-NLFlanders37.8 km831 m9 hr 48 minExpertApril to October
Via LimburgicaFlanders142 km3,121 m38 hrExpertApril to October
Via MonasticaFlanders224 km4,922 m60 hrExpertApril to October
Via TeneraFlanders235 km5,180 m63 hrExpertApril to October
Via Brabantica, Antwerpen - MechelenFlanders43.8 km964 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Via Brabantica, Breda - KapellenFlanders56.8 km1,249 m14 hrExpertApril to October
GR 12 Variant WestFlanders59.0 km1,297 m15 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Martinusroute, PeerkePad - 3 - Berg aan de Maas-Bree, National Park Trail (hoofdtraject). 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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