Aalst, a region in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, presents a varied landscape suitable for outdoor pursuits. Situated along the Dender River, the area combines urban green spaces with expansive natural reserves, offering diverse terrain for several sports like hiking, road cycling, touring cycling, jogging, and more. Its geography includes ancient forests, river valleys, and agricultural lands, providing a range of environments for outdoor activities.
Aalst offers a wide array of outdoor activities, with…
183
Routes
4.5
(3549)
Average rating
34756
People visited

4.3
(62)
254
hikers
11.0km
02:54
100m
100m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.4
(17)
48
hikers
15.9km
04:14
180m
170m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(108)
541
hikers
5.35km
01:31
120m
120m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(130)
411
hikers
10.6km
02:42
30m
30m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(5)
157
riders
42.7km
02:07
430m
430m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(1)
52
riders
92.2km
04:12
140m
140m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

7
riders
101km
05:12
1,060m
1,060m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.3
(12)
1,271
riders
91.4km
04:30
900m
900m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.8
(4)
55
runners
24.1km
02:54
370m
370m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

4.6
(5)
44
runners
13.8km
01:37
190m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

3.9
(19)
602
runners
4.46km
00:28
10m
10m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(10)
642
runners
8.20km
00:51
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(3)
1,581
riders
21.6km
01:21
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(18)
1,463
riders
35.2km
02:02
80m
80m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(18)
280
riders
49.1km
02:46
90m
90m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(9)
246
riders
94.0km
05:48
780m
780m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(13)
177
riders
60.7km
04:16
360m
360m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.7
(35)
173
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(18)
186
riders
57.3km
03:48
410m
410m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.3
(22)
215
riders
51.3km
03:19
190m
190m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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5.0
(12)
407
riders
106km
05:49
430m
430m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(4)
96
riders
57.5km
03:12
90m
90m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.5
(11)
45
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
26
riders
58.3km
03:35
460m
460m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Aalst offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Jogging, Mountain biking, and Gravel biking. The region features more than 6,000 routes for these sports, catering to diverse interests and skill levels.
Popular hiking areas in Aalst include Kluizenbos, which features a 3.7 mile (5.9 km) blue-marked trail, and the Lower Dender Valley, offering a 9.5 mile (15.3 km) walk through open landscapes. Osbroek Park and Kravaalbos Forest also provide well-marked trails. For more options, consult the Hiking around Aalst guide.
Yes, Aalst offers easy hiking routes suitable for beginners and families. Osbroek Park has well-marked trails through woodlands and meadows. The Easy hikes around Aalst guide provides specific recommendations for less strenuous options.
Aalst provides numerous cycling routes, including the Leireken cycle route, an 11.7 mile (18.9 km) car-free path. Routes along the Dender River and through hop fields are also popular, such as a 24.4 mile (39.3 km) ride starting near Meldert. The region is part of the Flemish Cycle Junction Network for customized routes. Explore more with the Cycling around Aalst guide.
Joggers can use the Osbroek nature reserve, which offers four marked running routes ranging from 0.2 to 2 miles (350 m to 3,180 m), including Finnish tracks. The Zwembadpark also features a 3.5 mile (5.6 km) green loop and a 5.2 mile (8.35 km) blue loop. For detailed running paths, refer to the Running Trails around Aalst guide.
Key natural features include the Dender River, Kluizenbos (an ancient forest), and the expansive Lower Dender Valley. Osbroek Nature Reserve is a significant green space within the city, and the Hollow Way in Neigembos features unique sunken roads and veteran beech trees. The surrounding countryside also includes distinctive hop fields.
Yes, Aalst offers options for both mountain biking and gravel biking. Specific trails and routes are available for these sports. For detailed information on routes, consult the MTB Trails around Aalst and Gravel biking around Aalst guides.
Outdoor activities in Aalst are popular on komoot, with more than 161,000 visitors exploring routes. The region's routes have an average rating of 4.46 out of 5 stars, indicating a high level of satisfaction among users.
Komoot offers several guides for Aalst, including Hiking around Aalst, Road Cycling Routes around Aalst, Easy hikes around Aalst, Cycling around Aalst, Running Trails around Aalst, MTB Trails around Aalst, and Gravel biking around Aalst.
The official website for the city of Aalst is www.aalst.be. For general inquiries, the city can be reached by phone at 053 77 9300, available weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Yes, the Dender River is a central feature with towpaths suitable for walking and cycling. Cyclists can enjoy routes passing through Aalst's sub-municipalities and hop fields, with one route spanning 24.4 miles (39.3 km). The Denderpad also offers a 8.5 mile (13.7 km) path along the river.

