Around Grande Fagne and Fagne des Deux Séries 24 km

Please note: I have recently walked approximately the route described below, which did not include two paths now closed to the public. See https://nl.wikiloc.com/routes-wandelen/fagnes-des-deux-series-baraque-michel-grande-fagne-24-km-122229054/. The two paths now closed to the public are marked with the waypoints 'Path next to fence on Grande Fagne' and 'Trail through Bouquet Bastin'.

This beautiful hike takes you around the Grande Fagne and the Fagne des Deux Séries, part of the Hautes Fagnes/Hohes Venn nature reserve. The hike is on trails, forest roads and boardwalks. Only at the start of the hike you will find something to eat in the Baraque Michel restaurant. Part of the track can be very muddy, and waterproof shoes are strongly recommended. A small stream needs to be crossed without a bridge. Unfortunately, it was raining and grey during my hike, but it was a nice experience regardless.
The hike starts at the parking at Baraque Michel. You pass by the Fischbach chapel, and take the trail west through the Herbôfaye moor. The track follows the former Belgian-Prussian border and you find a few border stones. After a while you pass the Croix des Fiancés (Cross of the Engaged). You then go north-west on trails along the Grande Fagne. You pass a monument to American pilots, and continue along the moors. You enter the Fermes en Fagnes (farms on the moors) road via a bridge and walk up to the Sawe river. You follow this stream on a nice trail until you get to a fence. Before the fence you cross the stream and follow a minor trail along the fence north-east, along the moors. After a while the minor trail changes in a broad unpaved forest road which you follow until the N672 (Jalhay-Baraque Michel road). You cross the road and follow another unpaved forest road to the N68 (Eupen-Baraque Michel road). After crossing this road you follow a smaller trail towards the edge of the Fagne des Deux Séries. The trail ends at a boardwalk which you follow northeast to the Pavée de Charlemagne, a long and straight unpaved road along the moors. You follow this road for 4.5 km. The Moor stream crosses this road, but for pedestrians a bridge to the side is provided. At the end of the road, there is a viewing hut. You turn south along the moor and the Bongard forests. The road transits into a trail with occasional boardwalks. At the Petit Bongard bush you turn right onto a single path which takes you straight through the moors. In the first section you pass a small lake, typical of the area. It’s called a pingo or palsa, a small lake created by the melting of a lens of ice. A bit further you pass the Geitzbusch, a forest with a lot of dead trees in the middle of the moors. You pass this forest and head for the next collection of dead trees, the Noir Flohay. From here the path turns left towards the boardwalk from Baraque Michel along the Helle river. You follow the boardwalk upstream and pass another Belgian-Prussian border stone near a Helle crossing. You continue towards Baraque Michel but take a detour on a moor track through the Bouquet Bastin area. Just before Baraque Michel you pass the Croix des Prieur.