Circular route within the future Nassonia National Park starting from Sapin Fî

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This circular walk follows the wide forest tracks through part of the future Nassonia National Park and the Deux-Ourthes Nature Park.
Starting from the Sapin Fî car park, the walk first heads towards the Rouge Poncé birch forest and its boardwalks, then towards the Wallonia Log Park before branching off towards Mochamps, the Fagnes de Priesse observation tower and the Croix des Russes.
After a long descent into the Rabani valley, the walk crosses the Masblette, the iconic river of Fourneau-Saint-Michel, via a small footbridge following the destruction of the two-arched stone bridge during the floods of summer 2021.
On the return journey, the route climbs slowly but surely, following the Palogne stream back up to Sapin Fî.

Details

n°91953024
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 22.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 400 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 398 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 572 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 326 m
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Photos

Splendid view of the Fagne

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 570 m - Sapin Fî car park
  2. 1 : km 2.13 - alt. 463 m - Unnamed tributary of the Masblette
  3. 2 : km 3.6 - alt. 529 m - Masblette Stream
  4. 3 : km 5.35 - alt. 540 m - Fagne du Ronge Poncé
  5. 4 : km 7.82 - alt. 536 m - Wallonia Log Park
  6. 5 : km 9.87 - alt. 498 m - The hamlet of Mochamps
  7. 6 : km 10.46 - alt. 501 m - Priesse observation tower
  8. 7 : km 13.61 - alt. 502 m - Rabani Stream
  9. 8 : km 15.73 - alt. 330 m - Rabani Stream
  10. 9 : km 16.42 - alt. 332 m - Stone bridge
  11. 10 : km 16.85 - alt. 341 m - Masblette Stream
  12. 11 : km 16.93 - alt. 348 m - Palogne Stream
  13. 12 : km 18.94 - alt. 470 m - Palogne Stream
  14. S/E : km 22.58 - alt. 570 m - Sapin Fî car park

Notes

Although the route does not feature any picnic areas as such, there are several attractive, wide benches between kilometres 12 and 19.

The Nassonia National Park project, the result of a collaboration between the Walloon Region’s Nature & Forests Division and the Pairi Daiza Foundation, is well underway in the municipalities of Nassogne, Tenneville and Saint-Hubert… in the Grande Forêt de Saint-Hubert (more info on the Nassonia website).
Birches, beech, oak, spruce, larch and other deciduous species planted at a good distance apart allow ground vegetation to thrive, thereby enhancing the forest’s overall visual appeal, with the added bonus of numerous babbling brooks that enliven the setting.
The only downside to the walk: the route follows exclusively wide forest tracks, some of which are tarmac-surfaced. All grassy side paths are off-limits. A shame for the walker.

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