The Best 20 Autumn Hikes in Belgium

For the best hiking trails in Belgium this season, look no further! Feel the leaves crunch under your feet as you escape into the stunning natural beauty of Belgium. The best hikes can be hard to find when you’ve got so many choices (trust us, we’ve been there!) so we’ve narrowed it down to a good 20. Take your pick and get hiking this autumn!

You can also find all of these and more on our map.

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1. Chemins de Solitude

We know, we know. You’ll see Chemins de Solitude recommended literally on every list! But that’s because it’s worth doing. Chemis de Solitude is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Ardennes, after all. If you haven’t already trekked Chemins in the autumn, there’s no better time to give this walk a go.

Chemins is the perfect route for a hiking day out, since it takes a few hours to do. So prepare your backpacks and bring some good shoes. You’ll be trekking through forests and valleys on a 20 km loop. Best for intermediate and experienced hikers! There’s a bit of elevation and hills along the way. This is one hike you shouldn’t miss this autumn.

Address: 🧭Saint-Hubert, Luxembourg

Length: 20 km (12.4 miles), 4-5 hours

Difficulty: Medium

Signage: follow the blue triangle signs

Find the GPX file, map and starting point by clicking below!

Where to Stay nearby

Budget - Chez isa

In the heart of Saint-Hubert is this comfortable and very affordable studio.

Mid-range - A la Grange d'en Haut

With breakfast included, you can have the ultimate getaway at this jaw-droppingly gorgeous stone cottage stay.

High-End - Saint-Hubert d'Ardenne

Want to feel like you're going on a cottage getaway or glamping? This wood cabin tucked in the forest will make your dreams come true.

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2. The Stalle Loop

A lot of the best hikes to do are in the Ardennes, but we’re not forgetting about our city friends. If you just need a hike near Brussels to do, The Stalle Loop is an easy choice this autumn. Circle around the little town of Linkebeek on a super beginner friendly trek. Take an easy going stroll through the park of Schaveys and make your way around the river. Nature goes hand in hand with the urban here, so you’ve got the best of both worlds on a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of Brussels. There’s some interesting houses to see along the way too!

Address: 🧭 Keyenbempt, 1180 Uccle, Belgium

Length: 13.5 km

Difficulty: Easy

Signage & GPX: No signage - just follow the map and GPX file below!

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3. Le Herou Walk

The best hikes are ones that give you a stunning view of nature, don’t you think? Le Herou is a short but sweet 5 km trek and one of the best hikes in the Ardennes. Trekkers, start off your trip in the Nadrin village and make your way across the Ourthe river.

The real highlight of this hike is the rock. If you’re able, climb up the rock for an amazing view of the Ardennes. It’s best to do Le Herou in the autumn when all those beautiful yellow and orange colours of nature are in full blast. Trust us, this hike is a perfect pick in the autumn. You can practically smell the pumpkin spice.

If you’re not able to climb the rock, Le Herou still has nice views and a final 1km flat path along the Ourthe river. It’s an easy hike to do without climbing the rock, but bump it up to medium if you do.

Address: 🧭 Rue de Houffalize 3, 6660 Houffalize, Belgium

Length: 5 km

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

Signage: follow the green squares!

Check out further details and tips below from blogger Emeline from flyalong.be who told us all about the trek!

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4. Sahara Lommel

Step into Limburg and walk your way through the sand. This is not your typical autumn hike, but you still get to trek through beautiful woodland too ‘til you make your way to the sandy dunes. Escape into the sandbox and dunes of the Sahara. It’s about as close as you can get to a desert here, making it one of our fave hikes in Belgium for its unique landscape. And don’t miss the lookout tower to get the best views!

You’ve got a choice of three different hikes here from 3 to 12 km. They all begin at the same starting point. The shorter hikes are best for families and are quite pretty, but the 12 km option of course shows you the most of the great nature here.

Tip: From April to September, you can even rent a hammock and chill out in the woods. Pick a spot near the sand for the best views!

Address: 🧭 De Soeverein, Sportveldenstraat 10, Lommel, Belgium

Length: 3, 6, 12 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map: there’s no GPX file, but there’s a map at the starting point.

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5. Terhills at Hoge Kempen National Park

Maybe you know it as Connecterra? Now called Terhills, this place has tons of hikes to choose from. But our top pick is the purple route of 13 km. You get to see all the highlights of the Terhills part of the park and a great viewpoint for awesome views of the autumnal landscape.

Trek Hoge Kempen to uncover Terhills past as a coal mine. Walk by the lake and enjoy the fresh, crisp air as you make your way up the hills. You can switch to yellow once it starts going steep for beginner trekkers to lower the difficulty to easy, but if you can keep following the purple signs we recommend you do to really get the best views on the hike.

Address: 🧭 Zetellaan 68, 3630 Maasmechelen, Belgium

Length: 13 km

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

Signage: follow the clearly signposted purple signs, switch to yellow once it gets steep for an easier trek. There’s also a map available.

Where to Stay nearby

Budget - Hotel Monika

You can rent a bike at this hotel, while the restaurant offers a daily menu for dinner - basically everything you need is on site!

Mid-range - Gastenkamers In de Bleick

This too adorable countryside estate has every comfort you need to make for a base to explore the nature it surrounds.

High-End - Hemelse Helderheid

If you're looking for a homely stay in a cottage, this is the spot for you. You'll feel like you have a whole country cottage to truly escape here.

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6. Bilzen Rural Beauty Loop

Expeditie Bilzen actually has a couple of really nice walks, but we’re focusing on Loop 2! Aka the ‘Rural Beauty’ loop, this hike is a 26.1 km beast through Limburg. But it’s also one of the best hikes around you can do in the autumn! If you’ve got some hours to spare, the rural beauty of Bilzen is worth checking out.

Feel those leaves crunch beneath your feet as you trek through green parks like Park Haffmans, the Waterfall forest of Bilzen and Schoonbeek, the Bilzermolen watermill and more. You get to see a couple of landmarks along the way too, including the pretty Kasteel van Schoonbeek. The ‘Rural Beauty’ loop lives up to its name! Don’t miss this trek's hidden gems and autumn vibes.

Address: 🧭 Stadhuis Bilzen, Markt 15, 3740 Bilzen

Length: 26.1 km

Difficulty: Medium

Map & Signage: the walk is clearly signposted and a map is available for free.

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7. Fagne Sacrawe

Recommended by local blogger Emeline from flyalong.be, the Fagne Sacrawe trek is one of the best autumn hiking routes in Belgium. Hidden away in the beautiful Luxembourg province, the 6 km hike takes you through Plateau des Tailles. The plateau is the second highest point of Belgium at over 650m. Perfect for an autumn hike, Fagne Sacrawe takes you along wooden walkways and forest paths.

Just watch your step - there’s bogs about! Make your way over to the observation tower for the best views of the plateau. There’s tons of nature to see.

Address: 🧭 Fraiture N89, 6690 Vielsalm

Length: 6 km

Difficulty: Medium

Map & Signage: follow the blue & white cross signs! More info available below.

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8. Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen

Head over to Ghent to take a full lap of a beautiful nature reserve. Trek through the woodlands and lose yourself in nature. There’s even a barefoot path to really feel autumn between your toes. Suitable for beginner trekkers and families, the walk is pretty easy going and easy to get to on a short 10 min bus ride from Ghent’s city centre. Stroll around the picturesque lake and make your way through the trees.

Some parts are a little difficult in the rain, either annoying to access or just muddy. On a dry autumn day, this walk is beautiful. Still, a bit of rain never hurt anyone!

Address: 🧭 sports hall Bourgoyen, Driepikkelstraat 30, Mariakerke

Length: 5.5 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & Signage: follow the blue & white cross signs! More info available below.

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Where to Stay nearby

Budget - KaBa Hostel

Want to make friends from around the world to join you in your nature walks? This welcoming hostel is the best place for it!

Mid-range - B&B HOTEL Gent Centrum

You'll be within walking distance of every major site in Gent - making this the best base for you to then later go out and explore its nature.

High-End - La Lys Rooms & Suites

This historical guesthouse provides welcoming hospitality - as well as the best plushiest bed for your comfort.

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9. Castle walk around Beloeil

Begin your trek at Beloeil Castle and prepare for a 5 hour beauty-packed hiking trail through Wallonia. There’s no steep parts or anything too difficult, so the hike is suitable for beginners! The best part of the hike is the starting point of the castle that has some nice Baroque gardens to wander. The rest of the hike is pretty too, though, with a unique museum, canal, and cute village along the way to see. Pick this easy going hike to get off the beaten track this autumn.

Address: 🧭 45 Rue du Château 457970 Beloeil, Belgium

Length: 19 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: no signage available, but click below to get a map and GPX file.

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10. Park Abbey

At 3 km, this is less of a hike and more of a cute stroll. Short and sweet, the Park Abbey loop takes you around the beautiful abbey grounds. Perfect pick for beginners and families! Budding photographers shouldn’t miss this one either - you get a great view of the abbey from across the ponds. It’s worth coming by just to see this preserved 12th century abbey from the outside, but you’ll find a few surprises too.

Park Abbey might just be outside Leuven, but this place has a taste of the countryside. Drop by De Wikke, the abbey farm, and wave hello to the cows. Check out the garden and even pick up some fresh milk from the vending machine. What autumn aesthetic is complete without the harvest?

Address: 🧭 Abdij van Park 7, 3001 Leuven

Length: 3 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map: available by clicking below!

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11. La Fagne de la Poleur Hike

Don’t forget to bring your camera on this beautiful hike through nature. Trek wooden promenades over the heathlands as you escape into a classic Belgian landscape. Enjoy the wide and open green spaces of the High Fens. This hike is a popular one during the winter, when all the ski tourism is at its peak. But that doesn’t mean it’s one to miss in the autumn, when the heaths feel like a whole new world.

The best kind of hikes are ones everyone can do! The hike is doable for all ages and is suitable for prams & wheelchairs - the wooden paths are quite wide. If you’re bringing younger kids, you can shorten the hike by starting at Mont Rigi.

Address: 🧭 Rte de Botrange 133, 4950 Waimes

Length: 9.1 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: available by clicking below. The route is clearly signposted too!

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12. Borgloon Wandelingen

Haspengouw is in full bloom in spring, but it's autumn beauty is not to be missed! Trek through the orchards and rolling hills of Limburg. The walks here range from 4 - 12km and all have the same starting point, but we recommend the 12 km option to really see everything if you’ve got the time. Begin your trek at the unique work of art the Reading Between the Lines Church, which went from hidden gem to iconic photo spot over the summer. If you haven’t already been, this autumn hike is the perfect reason to make plans.

All of this hike features beautiful green landscapes, hills, and farmland towards the end. For autumn scenery, there aren’t many better hikes in Limburg!

Tip: you can even pick some fruit in the orchards. The apples are ripe in October, right in the middle of autumn. Bring ‘em home to make some apple pie for that classic autumn taste.

Address: 🧭 Grootloonstraat 2, 3840 Borgloon

Length: 4 - 12 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: all available by clicking below!

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13. Domein Bovy

Domein Bovy is a beautiful park with 7 different walks to choose from. We recommend picking the Red route of 11.8 km to really stretch your legs, but a lot of the shorter hikes are more family friendly and there are specific trails suitable for toddlers.

The Red route around Domein Bovy takes you around its charming lake and nearby forest. Who doesn’t love a woodland walk in the autumn? Don’t miss the cute wooden bridges across the lake! There’s even a cafe at the end to rest your feet.

Address: 🧭 Galgeneinde 22, 3550 Heusden-Zolder

Length: 11.8 km

Difficulty: Medium

Map: a map is available at the starting point of the hike. See below for details.

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14. The Witch Path

Begin your trek at Laarne Castle and make your way through the quiet farmland. If you didn’t know better, you’d think this place has always been peaceful. But it’s not called the With Path for nothing. Long ago, the villagers of Laarne accused their own of being witches. These people were locked away in the castle and then burnt at the stake. Trace their story from the gallows to their homes. A bit morbid, but the Witch Path sure sets the mood for a spooky Halloween trek this autumn.

One of the most unique hikes we’ve ever seen! The Witch Path is a perfect choice if you want something different for a hiking day out through Flanders.

Address: 🧭 Galgeneinde 22, 3550 Heusden-Zolder

Length: 20 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: available below. The route is also signposted!

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15. La Roche aux Faucons

One of the best hikes in the Ardennes without question! Don’t believe us? Try it yourself. La Roche aux Faucons is our top pick of the Fondry des Chiens for the autumn. Trek your way through the forest and make your way up the steel hills to get to the top for views of the canyon. A paradise by Mother Nature in Belgium, this hike is one not to miss.

Rare plants grow on the side of the canyon. Bring a walking stick and good hiking shoes to make your way up the rocks. This trek offers up a good challenge with excellent rewards. In the autumn, the nature here is a real beauty to see. Just be careful not to come after a rainy day as the rocks can be slippy!

Address: 🧭 Viroinval Tourist Office/Church in Nismes

Length: 7.5 km

Difficulty: Difficult

Map & GPX: available below. Plus see the details of the other two hikes available here!

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16. The Green Walk

Autumn in Belgium is the perfect time to trek through nature. Head on over to Brussels to see the best parks and nature the capital has to offer! The Green Walk is actually a 60 km loop - hold on, don’t be intimidated! The loop is broken up into 7 parts, so you can easily pick the best trek for you. But we’ve got a top favourite you need to see.

For autumn, nothing beats a walk through the Sonian Forest. The 4th part of the Green Walk (Forêt de Soignes to Uccle) actually takes you through the forest and starts at Parc Tournay-Solvay. We’re sure it’ll be one of the top walks in Belgium this season!

Address: 🧭 Parc Tournay-Solvay, 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort

Length: 8 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: The Green Walk has tons of different starting points to easily break it down. Make sure you check out the full details plus the map & GPX file available below.

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17. Panorama on the Warche Hike

Want to see a castle and pretty natural landscapes in one hike? Then start your journey at Barrage de Robertville and make your way through the Warche Valley. The Warche Hike takes you real quick to Castle Rheinhardstein. The castle sits atop the hills like it's been plopped down straight out of a fairy tale. Follow along the signposts and make your way to the river.

We highly recommend this hike if you’re near the Liege area and it is worth going out of your way for if you have to. There is an option to make the usually 5 km hike into a 19 km route if you want to make a day of it! See below for details.

Address: 🧭 Barrage de Robertville, Rue du Barrage, 4950 Waimes, Belgium

Length: 5.2 km (option for a 19 km route)

Difficulty: Medium

Map & GPX: the hike is clearly signposted, but it’s always helpful to have a map & GPX file. Get all the details by clicking below.

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18. Mechelse Heath

Hoge Kempen Park is full of beautiful walks, but this route is one of our top picks for the autumn. This circle loop takes about 2 hours and will be 2 hours of your life well spent! Just follow along the yellow signs.

Begin your trek through the woodlands and take in the autumn colour palette. Birdsong sets the tone for this part of the walk, so hold off on the headphones until you enter the heaths. Autumn’s colours continue here on fallen leaves on the heaths and in the heathlands itself.

The walk begins at the car park of Mechelse Heath. There’s lots of walks around here too if you want to make a day of it!

Address: 🧭 Steenweg naar As, Maasmechelen, Belgium

Length: 5.5 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: the hike is clearly signposted, but it’s always helpful to have a map & GPX file. Get all the details by clicking below.

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19. Cycling Through the Heide

One of the latest route’s in Hoge Kempen Park, this trail is an easy going but beautiful 4 km. The main highlight of the route is the bridge crossing through cycling junction 550 and 551. The bridge is 300m long and is an upcoming favourite spot for cyclists journing through the park. Hikers can cross here too - but keep in mind that if it’s busy you’ll have some cyclists to dodge. Give your hiking boots a break and pick up your bike instead! The heide is our top spot for cyclists this autumn - come and relax as you bike through the pine forests and heathlands.

Address: 🧭 Zetellaan z/n, 3630 MAASMECHELEN

Length: 4 km (13.8 km option available)

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: see below for further details!

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20. Kalmthoutse Heide

Kalmthoutse is a massive park with thousands of hectares to explore. 24 marked trails lie in its heathlands, so you have plenty to choose from. Nestled into the border between Belgium and the Netherlands, you can go cross country from Antwerp. But we’ve picked a beginner friendly 12.4 km trek to get you started!

The Van Ganzenven en Kambuus Duinen trek takes you across the heaths, by the lake and to an observation tower to climb to get the best views of Kalmthoutse.

‍Address: 🧭 Heibloemlaan, 2920 Kalmthout, Belgium

Length: 12.4 km

Difficulty: Easy

Map & GPX: see below for further details!

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Trekking in Belgium is one of our favourite things to do. Trekking in autumn with the beautiful changing colours, even better! These are our top autumn hikes, but there’s more where that came from. Check out even more hikes in Belgium!