Gerhagen Nature Reserve Entrance and Picnic Area

This is one of the many entrances to Gerhagen but not the main entrance, for that you best park near the sand hill and the forest museum. This parking is ideal for those who want to explore the western part of Gerhagen and/or the eastern part of Averbode Vennen en Heide that is just across the Turnhoutsebaan. You are also not very far from Achterheide here which is a bit further south.

Gerhagen is a nature reserve, located between Schoot and Engsbergen in the Belgian municipality of Tessenderlo. The area has a surface area of 945 ha. In the west, it connects to the nature reserve Averbode forest & heath, located in the municipality of Averbode. To the east lie the Schoterse Bossen. In the south, one finds the nature reserve Groot Asdonk on the territory of Diest. Gerhagen has a number of owners, including the municipality of Tessenderlo, the Province of Limburg, the Flemish Community (on behalf of the latter: the Agency for Nature and Forests) and a number of private individuals. More than half of the area is forested with conifers, mainly Scots pine, and the oldest existing forest dates from 1915. The area consists of a number of sub-areas, including:
* Flemish Nature Reserve De Pinnekensweier, 32 ha, consisting of two fens. Surrounding this is a mixed forest. * Flemish Nature Reserve De Houterenberg, 210 ha, consisting of forests and heathland with drifting sands. The Houterenberg is a witness hill consisting of Diestian, and belonging to a series of such hills to which the more easterly situated Rodenberg also belongs.
* Achterheide
* Heuvelken
* Schoterheide
* Gerhees
(information source: wikipedia)

Free parking.
Ideal for a walk or bike ride from here.
Varied possibilities. Picnic area nearby.