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: 14.03 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 7h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,312 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,306 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,877 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,070 ft
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Photos

Splendid view of the Fagne

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,870 ft - Sapin Fî car park
  2. 1 : mi 1.32 - alt. 1,519 ft - Unnamed tributary of the Masblette
  3. 2 : mi 2.24 - alt. 1,736 ft - Masblette Stream
  4. 3 : mi 3.33 - alt. 1,772 ft - Fagne du Ronge Poncé
  5. 4 : mi 4.86 - alt. 1,759 ft - Wallonia Log Park
  6. 5 : mi 6.14 - alt. 1,634 ft - The hamlet of Mochamps
  7. 6 : mi 6.5 - alt. 1,644 ft - Priesse observation tower
  8. 7 : mi 8.45 - alt. 1,647 ft - Rabani Stream
  9. 8 : mi 9.77 - alt. 1,083 ft - Rabani Stream
  10. 9 : mi 10.2 - alt. 1,089 ft - Stone bridge
  11. 10 : mi 10.47 - alt. 1,119 ft - Masblette Stream
  12. 11 : mi 10.52 - alt. 1,142 ft - Palogne Stream
  13. 12 : mi 11.77 - alt. 1,542 ft - Palogne Stream
  14. S/E : mi 14.03 - alt. 1,870 ft - 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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Walking From Nassogne to Masbourg and Ambly

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↔9.09 mi ↗+1,394 ft ↘-1,424 ft ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Nassogne (Province de Luxembourg)
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