Signal de Botrange and the High Fens

A summit that opens up the horizon

In the municipality of Waimes, Signal de Botrange reaches 694 metres and is Belgium's highest natural point. The experience is less about a spectacular climb than discovering an upland plateau: the horizon, wetlands and changing light create a distinctive landscape. The High Fens are also a protected environment, best understood with some guidance. The Botrange Nature Centre is an information point for choosing a suitable route and learning what makes these spaces fragile. The summit and neighbouring trails cannot all be visited in the same way.

Six metres to reach a round number

Behind the figures 694 and 700 lies a documented story. In 1923, a mound was built on General Baltia's initiative; its steps allow visitors to reach a symbolic seven hundred metres. The natural ground remains at 694 metres. The difference raises a smile and prompts reflection on how a summit, a border or a milestone is marked in the landscape. Find the mound and compare it with the site's other structures. This small detour tells of an ambition to measure and a chapter in the history of East Belgium.

Plan for the plateau and your return

Consult information from the High Fens–Eifel Nature Park and the official closure guidance. A red flag means that access to the affected area is prohibited; on-site signs take precedence for your route. Bring clothing suited to the plateau's weather. Eupen station provides an arrival point by rail, followed by a road journey to Botrange that you will need to arrange. Check bus connections and your return before leaving: the site is not directly accessible on foot from a nearby station.

Photos and credits

Photo 1 — Signal de Botrange in winter, 2023. FrDr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source.

Photo 2 — View of the Botrange site, January 2023. FrDr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source.

Photo 3 — Detail of the Botrange site, 2023. FrDr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source.