Barrage de Nisramont

Get ready for a steep climb on the red diamond route! Or just enjoy the beautiful lake and its surroundings where you can grab a paddle and kayak away.

Nisramont’s dam is a buzzing centre of activities for all you sporty and adventurous travellers. Go kayaking or rafting in the stunning lake around the dam or take your pick of the many hiking trails. There’s something here for every level. Travel across the lake in a group of friends and go for a hike around Barrage de Nisramont without any pesky, heavy rafting gear in the way.

Hikes A plenty: beginners can get started on a 1.5km walk around the lake for a family-friendly stroll and view around the dam. Want to stretch your legs even more? Challenge yourself on the Hikes of the two Ourthes.

Hikes of the two Ourthes

Trek up the Red Diamond circuit for a hiking challenge. This 5-6 hour hike is perfect for experienced hikers or those looking for a challenge. The 14km long hike takes you around the lake, across rivers, and up hills. Medium to difficult, this hike is best for experienced trekkers and those ready for adventure.

Follow the marked path from Nisramont dam, La Roche-en-Ardenne to start the 5 hour hiking route. The elevation level is about 450m, so you really put those leg muscles to work. If you're lucky you might see some wildlife like kingfishers and cute beavers along the way. Take a rest at the picnic tables and benches around the viewpoints and snap some photo moments.

• Adventure out onto the water. At Barrage de Nisramont you can go kayaking, rafting and canoeing on the lake too (rental with Ardenne Aventures) or bring your own. It’s about 2.5 miles to the end of each arm of the water, so you’ve got plenty of room to work with.

• Paddle boating: paddle boats are available to rent from Sup Ardennen. You can also rent boats that are suitable for dogs to bring your buddy along the river. They also offer paddle boat classes that are good for beginners.

• Check out the dam. It’s 116m long and 16m tall. Great for photos. The waterfall here also gets lit up at night! Plus, there’s an audiovisual room where you can see how the dam works.