This walk in the Hoge Kempen National Park introduces you to one of the scarce wet brook valleys of the Kempens Plateau, a hidden gem: The valley of the Ziepbeek!
Distance: 11 km.
Time: 3h00.
Grade: Easy.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain: 67 meters.
Trail: 100% unpaved.
Marking: None.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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Hoge Kempen National Park.
Where the Kempens plateau turns to the east in the Meuse valley, the landscape suddenly shows a big dip. The Maas has sanded a 60 meter deep valley here. The eastern boundary of the plateau is a steep edge with numerous incisions, almost all dry dales without a brook in it. The only wet brook valley with still quite natural vegetation is the valley of the Ziepbeek. The wide Ziepbeek valley consists of a mosaic of gale stems, dry and moist heath, alder forest, swamps, fens and ponds. In the north, east and south, the stream valley is surrounded by high land dunes that are largely planted with coniferous and deciduous forests. From a very original sofa you then have a dazzlingly beautiful panorama of the Meuse valley. Further along the route you can enjoy the biodiversity of the ponds that were formerly excavated for fish farming. The Ziepbeek feeds the Gaarvijver, the Sluisvijver, the Jiddrouwenvijver and the Zonnevijver. This walk will introduce you to all facets of one of the most valuable nature reserves of the Low Countries! The Ziepbeek valley is wonderful in every season, but the biodiversity in the summer is simply breathtaking.
On the walk you encounter a mix of different markings making it almost impossible to give an exact route description. Download the PDF file where you can find more information. Anyway if you walk this route without GPS, good preparation is necessary.
Some paths can be very soggy.
POI 1 - Ziepbeek valley.
Heather: The dryer heathlands are characterized by heather, curvy smelting, sheep sorrel and pipe scrub. The humid heath, on the other hand, consists of heather, pipe strip and gale. The nature management gives leg break, white and brown beak, peat fluff, marshwolf claw and bell gentians another chance. The rare peat orchids and the petite heather orchids also grow in the valley. Also birds are everywhere: Redbreast, black woodpecker, woodcock, falcon, buzzard, sparrow hawk and hawk are examples of this, but also a special breeding bird is the nightjar which arrives in May. The larger inhabitants of the Ziepbeek valley are roe deer, wild boars and foxes.
Land dunes: On the land dunes around the valley are about 75 years old forests with pine. Here and there are remains of oak wood stoves. These are the last remnants of the winter oak and beech forest that once existed here. The softwood was used, among other things, to support the corridors in the coal mines.
Ponds and fens: From the Middle Ages peat was put in times of scarcity of wood; dried peat slabs served as fuel. As a result of the peat extraction, small open ponds in the peat moor. Larger pools were dug for fish farming. Numerous days were the days when one had to abstain from meat ... A limited excavation with the raising of dikes and uplifts of the Ziepbeek quickly led to the creation of shallow ponds in which carp, pike, perch and tench could be cultivated. On its route through the forest and heath, the Ziepbeek feeds four such ponds: the Gaarvijver, the Sluisvijver, the Juffrouwenvijver and the Zonnevijver.
Natuur en Bos.
www.natuurenbos.be.
POI 2 - National Park Hoge Kempen.
The only national park in Flanders has 5700 hectares of pure nature and extends over the municipalities of Genk, As, Zutendaal, Maasmechelen, Lanaken and Dilsen-Stokkem. Every municipality has its own gateway to the National Park, each with its own theme. They are the ideal starting places for a discovery tour through the green. The pine forests, ponds, heathlands and wide panoramas are a dream decor for every walker.
National Park Hoge Kempen.
www.nationaalparkhogekempen.be.
