The 6 Best Trail Runs in Brussels
Places to run in Brussels aren’t limited only to Parc du Cinquantenaire and the running tracks. In fact, could it be that Brussels is the best place to trail run in Belgium? The ability to find natural trails in local forests is real, especially if you have a car available and can head towards Lièges, for example, where you’ll find the greatest elevation differences in Belgium. Are you a traveler passing through the Belgian capital? Or a local runner wanting to take part in the Trail de Brussels event? Follow our GPS tracks in urban trail mode in the same way you would in the forest, or use them for inspiration when you’re planning your runs.
1. Tour Japonaise : trail run and tourist site in Brussels
- Location: Laeken, north Brussels
- Access: Simonis station (metros 2 & 6, trams 9 & 19, train S10, bus)
- Terrain: urban, mix of road and easy trail
- Points of interest: Parc de Laeken (Laeken Park), Tour Japonaise (Japanese Tower), Serres Royales (Royal Greenhouses), Atomium
Northern Brussels and Laeken are famous for the park, the Royal Greenhouses and the Atomium, and this urban trail run is the perfect way to easily see some of the sights in Brussels while running. The suggested start is from Simonis station (Parc Elisabeth) which is easily reached by public transport while the return runs along the Parc de la Jeunesse (Kids’ Park) then follows Avenue Charles Woeste back to your starting point. This trail run provides a unique way to immerse yourself in the city.
2. Rouge-Cloître : trail running between art and forest
- Location: Rouge-Cloître, Auderghem, southwest Brussels
- Access: metro 5 (Hermann-Debroux), tram 8, bus
- Terrain: easy forest path, pavement
- Points of interest: Rouge-Cloître park and priories, Meunier house, Source Sylvain (Sylvain spring), Château de la Solitude
Le Rouge-Cloître is a well-known, historic Belgian monument that is a favorite haunt of Belgian artists. It’s located next to a magnificent beech forest, part of which is protected. Easy to reach using public transport, this run features a visit to the Rouge-Cloître park before winding its way through the northern part of the Soignes forest. The terrain is mostly a rolling trail surrounded by big nature that can be wet at times, and also includes a paved section.
3. Groenendaal : hills and giant sequoias
- Location: Groenendaal, Soignes forest, southwest Brussels
- Access: train (Groenendaal station), car (free parking)
- Terrain: easy forest trail with the option of adding some beautiful hills
- Points of interest: Groenendaal Arboretum
Leaving from the gare de Groenendaal (Groenendaal station), dive immediately into the heart of the Soignes forest for a beautiful loop of natural terrain primarily on trails. Don’t hesitate to increase the distance of your run with a detour through the Groenendaal arboretum with its giant sequoias. Many hills, sometimes steep, can be added throughout your run to increase the elevation gain. This is a trail run that can be adapted to whatever your goals are for the day.Suggested route: 10.5km / 100m / D+ (or more depending on choice of hills) (GPX track)
4. Hippodromes : let loose the horses!
- Location: Groenendaal, Boitsfort, southwest Brussels
- Access: train (Groenendaal station) or tram 8 (Hippodrome de Boitsfort)
- Terrain: Varied terrain mostly on forest paths
- Points of interest: Boitsfort and Groenendaal hippodromes, Royal Lodge
Choose to start from either Groenendaal or Boitsfort to connect these two historic hippodromes by a varied loop of more than 20km with some nice hills thrown in. You can increase the distance (but not the elevation gain) by, for example, going through the bois de la Cambre (Cambre Forest). You’ll be able to cover it all at full speed!Suggested route: 20.7km / 210m / D+ (GPX track)
5. Chateau de la Hulpe : ferns and solitude Hippodromes, let loose the horses!
- Location: Groenendaal, south Soignes forest
- Access: train (Groenendaal station), car (free parking)
- Terrain: easy forest path with some optional hills
- Points of interest: Chateau de la Hulpe, Obelisque
This time head south from Groenendaal station to go on a different loop in the Soignes forest. At the halfway point you can explore Domaine Solvay and Chateau de la Hulpe with its French-style garden and obelisk in the middle of the forest. As with the other routes in the Groenendaal area, you can easily increase the distance and elevation gain of your run with detours up some of the forest’s hills.
6. Tervuren : an exotic trip to the gates of Brussels
- Location: Tervuren, east Brussels
- Access: tram 44 (Terminus)
- Terrain: easy forest path, sometimes muddy
- Points of interest: Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren Park and Arboretum
Tervuren sits on the northern border of the Soignes forest, a stone’s throw from Brussel’s city center. The historic and exotic tone of this loop is set as soon as you leave the Royal Museum for Central Africa. The trail run we suggest here takes you primarily through the 400 or so species of trees from all over the world that have been planted in the Tervuren Arboretum. Don’t forget to look up, and if you happen to get lost and your run ends up lasting a bit longer than expected, we won’t hold it against you!Suggested route: 13.6km / 150m / D+ (GPX track)
Once again, if you’d like to extend the distance of your trail run, the routes we suggest in the Soignes Forest can be easily combined. With a bit of imagination, there will be no need to go home before you’re good and ready…