Hesselt (Brussels Morning) – Due to heavy rain some hiking trails and parking lots in Limburg have been temporarily closed but most areas remain accessible with proper footwear. Visitors are advised to stick to marked paths.
In some places in Limburg it’s pretty wet but they haven’t had to close any routes yet. Frank Van Swalm from the Nature and Forest Agency said that good waterproof shoes are a must and it’s best to stick to the paths because it’s weter off them. The Plas in Houthalen-Helchteren had to close its parking lot and some paths until June 30. Walkers are asked to use only the paved paths so the grass can grow back.
What is the current status of hiking trails in Limburg due to heavy rain?
In Mechelen at Natuurpunt, they don’t have a list of closed hiking trails in Limburg. Natalie Sterckx from Natuurpunt mentioned that each department makes that decision on their own. They typically use signs or sometimes barriers to indicate closures. If there are significant issues they will also update their website for that specific area.
At Schulensmeer the red flag is up due to heavy rain causing the holding basin to fill up flooding the plank path and lower walking paths. Entering the basin is forbidden and all water activities are not allowed. The inner basin’s walking paths are flooded and the adventure trail is closed. However, the walking path on the dikes (orange route) is still open. In North Limburg all nature reserves and hiking trails like Hageven, Kolisbos Plat and Dommelvallei are accessible. Eddy Conjaerts the Natuurpunt department chairman advises wearing boots in some areas to keep your feet dry.
At Limburgs Landschap vzw they’re dealing with some special circumstances. You can still go for a walk in the southern areas of Limburg just be ready for a bit of mud. They’re asking others like cyclists and off-road vehicles to keep away to preserve the paths. Dirk Ottenburghs recommends sticking to the trails for safety to avoid getting stuck in wet areas and suggests wearing appropriate shoes.
