The best MTB trails in Vlaams Natuurreservaat Mechelse Heide

Technical trail for running and cycling.

A place of great serenity

A nice Trail for trailrunners ans mountainbikers

Enjoy an exceptional view

A magnificent place to explore by bike or on foot, both exotic and soothing.

Beautiful nature reserve for walking and cycling.

Camping Kikmolen in Maasmechelen is one of the most popular and versatile starting points for hiking and cycling tours in and around the Hoge Kempen National Park. Its location on the edge of the Mechelse Heide and near the Kikbeek spring valley makes it a logical base for exploring the park, whether on foot, by bike, or with family. Several marked hiking trails and cycling junctions depart from the campsite, leading you directly into the landscape without having to navigate long connecting routes. Here, you're literally at the gateway to the forests, heathlands, ponds, and former quarry areas so characteristic of this region. The starting point at Camping Kikmolen is popular because it's accessible and convenient. Parking, restaurants, and cafes are available in the immediate vicinity, and clear signage for hiking and cycling routes makes it easy for both day trippers and campers to begin their journeys. From this point, you can reach the Mechelse Heide, the Kiekbeekmeer area, and enjoy cycling through heathland and various forest and heathland paths that connect to the larger network of the Hoge Kempen National Park. For many visitors, this starting point is also ideal because after a hike, you can return to a place where tranquility, water, play, and relaxation converge. What makes this starting point extra special is the combination of recreation and nature. While you depart from here for a walk or bike ride through a protected nature reserve, a lively campsite with a natural swimming pond, water slides, and sunbathing areas is also nearby. This means the start of a route doesn't feel strict or distant, but relaxed and accessible, making it attractive to families, recreational hikers, and cyclists who want to combine nature with comfort. At the same time, you can reach open heathland or quiet woodlands within minutes, creating a striking contrast between the starting point and the natural experience.

The Singektrack along the Kikbeekbron in the Hoge Kempen National Park near Maasmechelen is part of the trails through the Kikbeekbron Valley, a nature reserve that has become one of the park's most attractive landscapes since the conversion of a former sand and gravel quarry into a nature reserve. This area is characterized by a tranquil pond, heathlands, marshlands, and forests with a rich ecology that is home to typical flora and fauna such as dragonflies, heathland vegetation, grazing fjord ponies, and a variety of birds and insects. The area around the Kikbeekbron is part of the larger network of hiking and mountain bike trails in the national park, which showcases Flanders' natural diversity and is part of the official hiking and cycling trails that lead visitors through forests, heathlands, fens, and valleys. The Singektrack and surrounding trails are generally part of regular hiking networks and are also incorporated into long-distance routes such as the National Park Trail, a route of over 105 kilometers that passes the park's most beautiful spots. The section around the Kikbeekbron has a temporary route change due to nature management work. Due to roadworks and nature restoration, a section of this trail, including a section near and around the Kikbeekbron, will be temporarily closed or diverted, meaning that certain paths will be inaccessible to recreational users while these works continue. For example, the National Park Trail will be closed for minor roadworks in the valley between August 1 and December 31, 2025, for which detours will be signposted to minimize the impact on nature and protect vulnerable zones. In addition to these specific temporary updates, the park's accessibility regulations state that certain areas within the national park, including the valley around the Kikbeekbron and other vulnerable zones, are legally designated as restricted zones, meaning that access is only permitted via the designated paths and route networks. Beyond these trails, access to sensitive natural areas is only permitted with the park manager's permission or under the guidance of a certified ranger, as the park prioritizes nature conservation and ecological integrity. In practice, this means that the Singek Track and other trails around the Kikbeekbron are currently officially closed or heavily restricted for recreation, especially in areas where new nature restoration or management projects are underway. Visitors are asked to follow the designated alternative routes and detours and to respect the sensitive areas to avoid disturbing flora and fauna—something the park managers strictly monitor. Nevertheless, some visitors, like myself, report sneaking into the area despite the closures and construction. These kinds of personal experiences occur when trails aren't completely blocked, or when visitors ignore the signage to enjoy the trail and views offered by the Singek Track. Such experiences are understandable from the perspective of nature and outdoor enthusiasts who want to experience the scenic beauty of the Kikbeek source, but they technically fall outside the park's permitted access regulations, especially because management works and nature restoration are underway there, and vulnerable nature is recovering. The park emphasizes that access to closed areas is prohibited to prevent damage to the landscape and disturbance of species, and such zones are regularly designated as inaccessible. The Singektrack itself, before the works and restrictions, was popular for the natural diversity of the Kikbeek valley. It allowed you to walk along water features, through heathland, over soft woodland, and enjoy panoramic views of the valley. Its positioning within the network of hiking trails made it a logical, varied route for those who wanted to explore the area, showcasing the transition between open landscape, water, and forest that is characteristic of the Hoge Kempen region. However, since the announced works and new management plans, the valley around the Kikbeekbron has been designated a vulnerable zone. Managers are carrying out restoration and management projects to improve water levels, vegetation structure, and habitats, among other things. This has a temporary impact on the recreational accessibility of trails such as the Singektrack.