In the Dutch top 10 for years. Purple signage, a team of volunteers who love trail running, and a ridge that surprises you twice – once on arrival, once on the descent.
There are routes you ride because they are on the map. And there are routes you keep riding because they make sense. The Hellendoorn MTB Route is of the latter type. Technical singletracks, real climbing, flowy descents, and a landscape that alternates between pine and heath: this is no compromise. This is one of the better MTB routes the Netherlands has to offer and ideal for MTB marathon training.
The region around Hellendoorn and Nijverdal is one of those places you underestimate until you drive there. Not the Ardennes, no. But a destination with character, a logical base camp, and enough trails to build a whole weekend around.
The route: what to expect
MTB Route Hellendoorn — 19.7 km · 390 m elevation gain · blue + two red loops
The basic route has a difficulty rating of blue: medium, rideable for anyone with a year of off-road experience. But the route has two parallel loops on red for those who want more. These loops are not optional extras for show: they are located where the terrain demands it and the reward is great.
The signage is purple: international MTB posts with a triangle and two circles. You ride clockwise. You can start at two points:
Staatsbosbeheer Outdoor Centre, Grotestraat 281, Nijverdal — free parking, directly into the forest
Hotel Restaurant de Uitkijk, Hellendoornsebergweg 8, Hellendoorn — bike washing area available, coffee and lunch after the ride
What makes the route special is the variety.
You cycle through dense pine forest with roots and shade, climb to open heathlands with juniper bushes and panoramic views, and descend via singletracks that demand line choice and a gentle hand on the brakes. The sanatorium climb is the crux – steep, loose, a leg-burner – but the descent that follows makes up for it.
The best season? Early spring or autumn. In April, the soil is moist but firm, the paths are quiet, and the light through the bare trees is different than in summer.
October brings the heather to its final bloom and the spectacle of color of the birches along the woodlands. Summer works too, but is often just too dry.
News: 't Stut open again
Good news for those riding this season. The technical singletracks on and around 't Stut in Nijverdal are fully accessible again after being closed for over a year. They had been closed since February 2025 due to TenneT work on high-voltage pylons. The fences have now been removed and the Trail Care Crew has made the trails rideable again. The descent at 't Stut and the singletrack along the Goudzoekerspad are in pristine condition. The temporary detour via the Ruyterweg has disappeared – you are riding the real line again.
Please note: some sections along the Goudzoekerspad have been modified due to the installation of fences and screens. Follow the route signs. Also new in 2025 is Uphill De Rakhorst: an addition that gives the route a fresh boost and resolves a previously duplicated section.
The Trail Care Crew: why this route is so good
The MTB Route Hellendoorn has been in the top 10 of MTBroutes.nl for years. That is no coincidence. Behind this route is a team of volunteers who take it seriously: they carry out regular maintenance, respond quickly to damage, and are willing to build new sections. The reactions from riders on MTBroutes.nl speak for themselves: “This must have been done by the best trail crew in the Netherlands.”
No vignette is required, but a voluntary contribution via the QR code at the start is greatly appreciated. It is the reason this route is in the condition it is in.
Driving further: the Lemelerberg on the second day
Anyone riding for a weekend hasn't seen enough after Hellendoorn. The Lemelerberg — a few kilometers further south, starting from Lemele — is the logical second day.
The route is 13 kilometers long. That sounds short. But it is a tough 13 kilometers, with elevation changes you wouldn't expect and a character that differs from Hellendoorn: narrower, rougher, less flow, and requiring more technical maneuvering. For those who ride the purple route comfortably, the Lemelerberg is the perfect addition.
If you combine both routes, you have a weekend that offers more than enough variety and technical content.
The larger network: expansion is always possible
The purple Hellendoorn route can be ridden consecutively with two other routes in the same network:
Blue — Holten (29.9 km): The blue route runs through the southern part of the Sallandse Heuvelrug, along wider paths with beautiful climbs and descents. If you combine it with Hellendoorn, you have a day trip of nearly 50 kilometers.
Please note: the singletracks of the Holten route are closed from March 1 to October 31 due to provincial policy — check this before departure.
Green — Reggedal Nijverdal (19.5 km): The Reggedal route follows the river Regge — quieter, fewer elevation changes, different landscape. Ideal as a cool-down ride on day two.
Anyone who combines all three rides approximately 65 kilometers in a single weekend. That is a full-fledged XCM adventure without venturing a single kilometer outside Overijssel.
Camping Twilhaar as base camp
Anyone planning to ride for several days makes a smart choice at Camping Twilhaar. The campsite is within walking distance of the first trail. You won't have to load your bike into the car for your first ride.
Twilhaar is not a glamping resort. It is a neat, quiet campsite for people who get outdoors for the sake of being outdoors. The sanitary facilities work, the atmosphere is relaxed, and you are among like-minded people: hikers, cyclists, and families who consciously chose this part of Overijssel over a rental house in Zeeland.
From the campsite, you can cycle to the edge of Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park in five minutes.
No car. No transfer time. Just press the pedals and go.
Mountainbikemania
Every autumn, Hellendoorn organizes Mountainbikemania: a night bike ride of a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 60 kilometers, featuring climbs on the Hellendoorn mountain and a course through the Regge valley. Registration fills up incredibly fast every year. Don't wait too long, as registration closes soon. Keep an eye on the announcement via the Tourbuffels.
What you bring
The village of Hellendoorn itself has few cycling-specific facilities, but that is not a problem if you leave well-prepared. Make sure you have a tire repair kit with you: Sand and roots are great to ride on, but hard on thin sidewalls. A small tubeless repair kit fits in any jersey and costs you nothing if it isn't needed, but saves your day if it is.
Practical information:
Starting point: Nijverdal center or directly from Camping Twilhaar (Twilhaarseweg, Nijverdal)
Distance classic loop: 19.7 km | Elevation gain: ±390 m
Difficulty: 2–4/5 depending on route variant
Terrain: sand, loam, roots, heathland, forest path
Best season: April–May, September–October
GPX: available via Komoot; search for “Sallandse Heuvelrug MTB” for user routes with reviews
- Photo credits: Peak Flow MTB
