The best hiking routes in Parc naturel des Sources

Parc naturel des Sources offers a distinct walking landscape shaped by the water that filters through the subsoil of the Ardennes foothills. Walkers will find a transition between damp, mossy forests and open peatlands. The terrain is gently rolling rather than mountainous, characterized by deep-cut wooded valleys and marshy plateaus where water constantly seeps to the surface. Underfoot, the paths alternate between soft forest loam, stony tracks, and wooden boardwalks designed to protect the fragile peat.

In the wetter sections, the vegetation consists of sphagnum moss, birch, and purple moor grass, while the drier ridges support beech and oak stands. You will notice how the landscape changes from dense, shaded woodland to wide, boggy clearings where the soil remains saturated. This is a working landscape of water extraction, where the protection of natural springs dictates the quiet, undeveloped character of the forest.

In late spring, around May, the cotton grass transforms the boggy plateaus with white tufts. The area is generally quiet, though paths near the established spa towns can be busier.