Lens is a region in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, featuring a distinctive landscape shaped by its industrial heritage. The area is characterized by prominent slag heaps, which provide elevated viewpoints, alongside the rolling Artois hills and serene waterways like the Deûle canal. This diverse terrain offers a compelling setting for several sports like hiking, jogging, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more.
The Lens region offers a wide array of outdoor activities, with more…
181
Routes
4.5
(1345)
Average rating
18612
People visited

4.5
(46)
166
hikers
8.86km
02:19
70m
70m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
11
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(4)
14
hikers
3.72km
00:59
30m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(5)
13
hikers
11.9km
03:02
30m
30m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(4)
13
riders
33.3km
02:03
140m
140m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(31)
222
riders
35.3km
02:27
130m
130m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(22)
192
riders
42.2km
02:27
70m
70m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.2
(5)
162
riders
44.9km
02:59
220m
220m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(4)
689
runners
11.5km
01:24
120m
120m
Hard run. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

609
runners
68.4km
07:13
190m
190m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(5)
556
runners
19.5km
02:19
190m
190m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.3
(4)
579
runners
18.9km
02:10
130m
130m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(46)
314
riders
46.3km
03:09
240m
240m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.4
(48)
351
riders
40.0km
02:44
160m
160m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(28)
275
riders
57.8km
03:36
180m
180m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.7
(24)
198
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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5.0
(2)
142
riders
59.2km
02:35
420m
420m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

135
riders
99.5km
04:05
310m
310m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.5
(2)
135
riders
91.3km
03:46
340m
340m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(6)
89
riders
46.9km
02:08
350m
350m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.4
(16)
60
riders
46.8km
02:25
190m
190m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(5)
40
riders
52.1km
02:58
240m
240m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
22
riders
32.6km
01:44
130m
130m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
11
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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The Lens region offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Jogging, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Road cycling, and Gravel biking. More than 2,000 routes are available, with an average rating of 4.47 stars from over 97,000 visitors. The landscape features slag heaps, Artois hills, and canal paths.
Hiking in Lens often involves exploring the unique slag heaps, which offer elevated viewpoints. Routes like the "Loos-en-Gohelle slag heap loop from Liévin" provide challenging ascents. For a broader selection, consult the Hiking around Lens guide.
Yes, the varied terrain of Lens, including the slag heaps, provides opportunities for mountain biking. Trails such as the "Marais de la Galance – Bois de Florimond Pumptrack loop from Liévin" range from moderate to advanced difficulty. The MTB Trails around Lens guide offers more options.
The Lens region is part of the "Accueil Vélo" scheme, offering routes through the mining basin and Artois hills for touring and road cycling. Some routes feature impressive ascents and descents. Electric bike rentals are available from the tourist office. Explore options in the Cycling around Lens and Road Cycling Routes around Lens guides.
Yes, while some slag heap trails are challenging, the region also offers gentler options along the Deûle canal and in areas like the Canteraine Nature Reserve. The Easy hikes around Lens guide provides suitable routes for beginners.
The most striking features are the slag heaps (terrils), artificial hills from coal mining that offer panoramic views over the mining basin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region also includes the Artois hills and the Deûle canal. These features combine industrial heritage with re-naturalized landscapes.
The slag heaps are popular for jogging, with routes like the "Loos-en-Gohelle slag heap loop from Liévin" providing intense workouts. The region also hosts events like the "Infinity Trail des Terrils." More jogging routes can be found in the Running Trails around Lens guide.
The Lens region is a popular destination on komoot, with over 97,000 visitors exploring its routes. There are more than 2,000 routes available across various sports, which have received an average rating of 4.47 out of 5 stars from over 12,000 ratings.
Komoot offers several guides for the Lens region, including Hiking around Lens, Running Trails around Lens, MTB Trails around Lens, and Cycling around Lens. There are also guides for easy hikes, road cycling, gravel biking, and waterfall hikes.
For additional information regarding tourism in the Lens-Liévin region, the official tourism website is tourisme-lenslievin.fr. The Office de Tourisme Lens-Liévin Hénin-Carvin can be reached by phone at 03 21 67 66 66.
The Lens region is unique due to its combination of a rich historical narrative and distinctive re-naturalized landscapes. The transformation of former industrial sites, particularly the slag heaps, into recreational areas offers a compelling backdrop for activities. Visitors can engage in physical pursuits while experiencing the region's mining heritage and panoramic views.

