© Erwin Christis
Borgharen & Itteren hiking area
Explore the riverbed! When the Meuse River is low, you can roam freely on the riverbed in Borgharen, even crossing into Belgium. When the water levels rise, head to higher ground, where hiking paths—worn by both animals and walkers—await. As the river rises further, the area becomes marshy but most trails stay accessible with good footwear and the stepping stones laid out along the paths.
Hiking
The Borgharen walking area offers endless opportunities to wander along the Meuse for hours.
Prefer a set route? The ‘Discovery Map for roamers and hikers Borgharen‘ has three suggested routes of 8, 10, or 19 km through Borgharen, Itteren and Geulle aan de Maas.
Accessibility and parkings
Starting points
Parking Borgharen: Middenstraat schuin tegenover kasteel
Additional entry points
Itteren: Ruijterstraat/Brigidastraat
Geulle aan de Maas: Kerkplein
Elsloo: Maasberg langs Julianakanaal
Nature along your way
The Borgharen nature area emerged after four years of excavation as part of the Grensmaas Project, the largest river project in the Netherlands. Here, gravel extraction, river expansion, and nature development work in harmony. After gravel extraction, the area was returned to nature, allowing wildlife to thrive with minimal human intervention. Managed by Staatsbosbeheer and ARK Rewilding Nederland, the area is grazed by large herbivores to keep the landscape open. This management has created a varied habitat, home to countless species. There’s always something to see—and hear! Rare birds like skylarks and little ringed plovers flourish here, and during migration, you may – with a bit of luck – spot ospreys, cranes and storks on your walk in Borgharen.
