Lommelse Sahara Observation Tower – Lommel Sahara loop from Natuurreservaat Heuvelse Heide

Bike touring routes & trails

Lommelse Sahara Observation Tower – Lommel Sahara loop from Natuurreservaat Heuvelse Heide

Moderate

4.4

(10)

218

riders

Lommelse Sahara Observation Tower – Lommel Sahara loop from Natuurreservaat Heuvelse Heide

02:53

36.0km

70m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 2, 2026

Tips

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this route

After 17.5 km for 83 m

After 30.4 km for 66 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

17.6 km

S-Bridge Over the Bocholt-Herentals Canal

Highlight • Bridge

The beauty of bridges: They connect. This architectural masterpiece by the architect W. Grauwner connects two nature reserves: the Lommel Sahara and the Blekerheide.

The S-shaped construction is made of steel and wood and is suspended from two steel pylons.

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18.4 km

Lommelse Sahara Observation Tower

Highlight • Viewpoint

Super nice lookout tower with an even better overview of the area... The Sahara, the ponds and the forests can be seen in one package...

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21.9 km

Bosland Forest Trail

Highlight • Trail

26.8 km

Saturnus Sculpture

Highlight • Monument

The sculpture "Saturn" by artist Niko Hendrickx has been moved from the roundabout at Kristalpark (where it stood for 16 years) to the bike path behind the Sahara. The sculpture was installed at the roundabout in 2009 and will now have a permanent home in the Sahara.

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27.2 km

Lommel Sahara

Highlight • Natural Monument

This nature reserve with many opportunities for walking and cycling was created by human activities. For example, the lake was created by sand extraction between 1920 and 1925 and the exhalation of the former Lommel-Werkplaatsen zinc factory caused all green plants to disappear between 1902 and 1940. The result was 350 hectares of arid landscape covered in white sand.
To prevent further expansion, coniferous forestation was established after the Second World War. The process of complete silting up was prevented with the help of hedges of deadwood (so-called 'mutsaards'). As a result, the sand area was reduced in size to the current 193 hectares. Today the area is known for its countless water birds and the exotic feral black swans.
The Poudreries Réunies de Belgique explosives factory previously had its testing site on the Sahara. Remnants of this can be found, such as a shelter, the place where employees hid while testing grenades. There is also the ruins of an extermination pit, a structure with a diameter of about 10 meters in which unnecessary ammunition was demolished. As well as the original concrete safety pyramids, which had to stop shrapnel and cannonballs.
(Wikipedia)

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27.4 km

Bike Path Through Bosland National Park

Highlight • Cycleway

Great section in a very beautiful forest. The cycle path is very rideable, the landscape is wonderful. It's just great there.

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30.4 km

Bosland Play Forest

Highlight • Forest

Artist Will Beckers has been commissioned to create a landscape work for the Lommel entrance gate to Bosland National Park, located on Speelpleinstraat. The installation will consist of three zones, with the House of Nature as the eye-catcher.

The design includes an art installation consisting of three zones that together create a total experience in the area between the Klagloop and the cycle path on Speelpleinstraat towards the canal.

(Municipality of Lommel)

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36.0 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types