Terhills | Hiking in Limburg Belgium
If you are looking for places to hike in Limburg Belgium, you cannot miss out on Terhills in Maasmechelen. The 350+ ha area of beauty is the only national park of Belgium. In the 1950s this region was known for its coal mine industry. Later in the 90s all these mines were closed and Limburg has completely transformed it from a mining industry to a beautiful nature reserve. Terhills is the best place for panoramic views of the region.
How to get there?
Terhills is easily accessible for all types of travelers. You can acces the park by cars, busses and trains as well as by bike.
TRAIN + BUS
Another option to get to Terhills is by public transport. Take a train to Genk & hop on the bus nr 45 to Maaseik Van Eycklaan getting of at the stop: Eisden-Maasmechelen Village.
CAR
If you are traveling by car, take the E314 Brussel - Aken autoroute and use exit 33. There are a lot of parking spots by the main entrance. Just drive past the Decathlon and before Maasmechelen Village.
BIKE
On a sunny day, a great option to visit Terhills is by bike. Bike around the cycling hubs (fietsknooppunten) of Belgium and find Terhills around numbers 60 and 55.
Different Hikes
There are a lot of different hikes in the Terhills park. If you want to enjoy the panoramic views, please be aware that a moderate level of fitness is required.
GREEN ROUTE
If you are traveling with little kids, or prefer to explore the area without tackling the bigger hills I can recommend the green route. This short hike is easily accessible for most people.
Distance: 1.4KM Time: 20min
BLUE ROUTE
The most hiked route follows the blue markers, this is the panoramic viewpoint route. It gives you a beautiful view over the region and the national park. For this route, you have to climb a bigger hill. Most people will be able to climb the hills, however, if you have any doubts, please check at the front desk of the park.
Distance: 3.9KM Time: 60min
PURPLE ROUTE
This route is the alternative route for the yellow (10.9KM) and red (7.4KM) route (which are currently closed due to some construction of a new vacation park in the area). It is a longer route which shows you everything Terhills has to offer. This is perfect for people who hike more often.
Distance: 13KM Time: 3-4hours
Facilities at the Park
Until 2020 there was a small entrance fee at the park, however the park realized this was a bit against their values of letting everyone enjoy nature. I think most of us have now come to the conclusion that walking and hiking in nature is an essential activity. As of 2021 the park is now FREE to enter. If you would still like to support the park and the nature reserve, you can still leave a small tip, but this is completely voluntary.
Some of the facilities at the park are:
Bathrooms
Information point at the entrance
Playground for kids
Cafe (drinks & snacks)
The Panorama at Terhills
The highlight of your day trip to Terhills is the panoramic views you get over the national park. Located at the half way point of the blue route it is the perfect place to stop for lunch or rest your legs. Because of its popularity it is also the spot where most visitors gather. Usually people are very patient and allow other visitors to take their photos at the look out spot. But if you are a photographer or would like to take your time taking photos I would avoid going at mid day especially on the weekends.
Another beautiful viewpoint is at the top of the Pithead. This old headframe still remains from the mining times and offers you a beautiful viewpoint at 12M high.
Want to Stay the Night?
If you are interested in extending your trip overnight, you can spend the night at one of the many accommodations in the area. From pure luxury to a relaxing stay the Terhills offers it all.
Terhills Hotel
If you want to stay the night at a beautiful 4star hotel, I highly recommend the terhills hotel located right next to the entrance of the park.
An overview of all the hotels and Bed&Breakfasts of the area can be found here.
Other Highlights in the Area
If you want to explore more of Maasmechelen on your weekend getaway, don't miss out on the other highlights of the area.
Terhills Cable Park & Aqua Park
Love the water? Make sure to check out the waterski, wakeboard and aqua park. There are different options available depending on your experience level.
Maasmechelen Village
If you love shopping and finding good deals, Maasmechelen Village is the place for you. This outlet complex has a lot of designer shops where you can shop at a discounted rate.
Kayak at the Meuse River (Maasrivier)
Looking for an adventurous afternoon? Make sure to rent some kayaks and explore the river Meuse near the border with the Netherlands.
Movie Theater
End your night with a relaxing movie at the Euroscoop movie theater. It is right next to the park and the shopping center.
