Hike The Valley of Bayehon in Malmedy (25 km)

This hike in the valleys of the Bayehon and Warche river will take you along some of the most scenic views around Malmedy in The High Fens, East-Belgium. Most of the time you will be walking next to the river which flows through some beautiful valleys and hills. Passing by the Reinhardstein castle into the Warche Valley will make this hike even more epic!

Alternative title: How I survived a 25 kilometer hike on 2 chocolate waffles.

Hike Description

Distance: The total distance for this hike is 24,3 kilometers (loop hike)
Elevation gain: The total incline was 800 meters
Moving time: According to Strava my moving time was 5 hours and 25 minutes.
Difficulty: I would rate this as a medium hard hike. The trails are not very technical but because of the distance it might be a bit demanding, especially in hot weather.
Address parking: BEVERCE Auberge de Jeunesse, Route d’Eupen 36, 4960 Malmedy. This is not a public parking but I asked around and nobody seem to have a problem with me parking my car there. The parking is rather small but I’m sure you can find some other spots in the neighborhood. As you’re likely to start off pretty early it should be possible to find a spot.

Easier is to use the pinned location on the Google map below and navigate straight to the start. 

How to get to Bevercé in Malmedy?

The best way to get to Bevercé is by using your own car. This is a small town in the High Fens in Belgium so getting there with public transportation is rather difficult. You would have to take a train to Verviers station then get on a bus to Malmedy and then take another bus to Bevercé. If you come with public transportation I would recommend staying in the area for a few days so you have the whole day for this hike.

With the car it is about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get from Brussels to Bevercé in Malmedy.

To get to Bevercé from Brussels with the train and bus it takes about 2 hours and 47 minutes depending on the transfer times.

What is the easiest way to hike the Bayehon Valley in Malmedy?

Generally speaking for all hikes, the easiest way is to download a gpx file. You can view such a file on a gps device, a smartphone or smartwatch. It will tell you step-by-step how to walk. It also includes an elevation profile which can help you to decide if this hike is for you or not. All the hikes on this blog are being tracked on Strava (sports tracking smartphone application) and Wikiloc (community based hiking smartphone application).

For this route in particular I would definitely recommend to use a gpx viewer. It’s a mix of different routes so following signs only is impossible.

Download the GPX file right here: bayehon-valley-reinhardstein-castle.gpx

Another hike that is similar in length with many beautiful viewpoints is Best hike in Bouillon Belgium is the 14 Panorama route (28 km)

How was hiking in the valley of the Bayehon river?

I didn’t really know what to expect of the Malmedy region. The race track from Spa Francorchamps is somewhere here, that I knew. Also I did some smaller hikes like the hike around the Gileppe lake in the region. And I visited the Reinhardstein castle and Barrage de Robertville a few years back. Apart from these visits I never explored much of the area.

The hike starts at a chapel called Chapelle Saint Antoine in Bevercé. There isn’t really an official parking in the area but there are some spots available next to the street or like I did, I used the parking of a hotel. I would suggest to ask if you’re allowed to park there because the last thing you’d want is to get back from a hike and see that your car’s gone!

Immediately when you start there’s a pretty steep climb on an asphalted road. The climb doesn’t last long and pretty soon you are in a dense forest surrounded by nothing but trees!

Not much into the hike you will start walking right next to the Bayehon river. It was a hot sunny day when I was there but still the rocks were pretty slippery. I’d definitely recommend some decent hiking shoes with lots of grip. On the technical parts there are ropes or wooden bridges to walk over but still, watch your steps!

Once while hiking in the communal forest of Malmedy (la forêt communale de Malmedy) there is a bit of an unexpected the path that goes straight up the hill. It’s a pretty harsh climb but not for long.

Reinhardstein Castle

One of the highlights on this trail is the Reinhardstein Castle. The impressive 14th century château sits high above the Warche river. Around the castle there are many hiking trails. Even one of the highest waterfalls in Belgium flows right at the foot of the castle. I’m thinking to create another hike that passes by this waterfall, the Bayehon waterfall and some other highlights in the region that were not covered by this hike.

In the castle itself you can have a medieval dinner or reserve one of the rooms for your events. There’s even an archery where you can practice. For these activities it’s best to reserve upfront. Visit the official Reinhardstein Castle website for more information.

Right after passing by the Reindhardstein Castle there are some technical descending and ascending trails that require some attention but they are so worth it once you see the views as a reward. More about the view points below.

Finding food along the way

Conveniently around halfway you pass by a restaurant called Le Moulin du Bayehon. When I hiked this route it wasn’t open. The owner of the place advised to check the website to know the opening hours. The restaurant seemed to have lots of space outside so I don’t think it’s necessary to book in advance. That place was my only chance of finding food along the way and apart from 2 chocolate waffles I didn’t pack anything. Usually I prepare a packed lunch but that day I was hoping to find something on the road. Do not make the same mistake as me!

Viewpoints during the hike

Until the Reinhardstein Castle you will be mostly hiking close to the river and in the forest. The best viewpoints come right after leaving the castle behind you starting with a pretty epic view called the Nez de Napoléon which translates into Napoleon’s nose. It’s a rock that looks out over the Warche Valley and it’s definitely a great spot for an Instagram banger!

Not much further, is where the real viewpoint-fun begins. If you have fear of heights this path might be a bit challenging for you. It looked completely safe to me though. For a while you will hike high above the Warche Valley which makes you feel like you’re not really in Belgium. Look at the photos and judge for yourself.

Should you hike the Bayehon Valley in Malmedy Belgium?

During the hike in the valley of the Bayehon river you’ll see dense forests, small waterfalls, deep valleys, green hills, a medieval castle, open plains,… This hike was absolutely beautiful, especially after passing the Reinhardstein castle and the Warche Valley! 100% recommended!

Start early, come back late and leave nothing but your footsteps behind!