Part of Netherlands › Utrecht
The Utrecht Heuvelrug is a dam from the last ice age: a long ridge of sand, forest and meadow from Hilversum to Rhenen. It is a National Park and one of the best places in the middle of the country for gravel biking or mountain biking.
Why cycle on the Utrecht Hills?
- The Amerongse Berg: with 69 meters the highest point of the Heuvelrug, and a real climb.
- The Grebbeberg near Rhenen, overlooking the Nederrijn river.
- Mountain biking routes around Amerongen, Leersum and Rhenen, and many unpaved roads for gravel bikes.
- Manors and castles, such as Castle Amerongen and Huis Doorn.
Race bike on the Heuvelrug
You cycle through the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park, and from the Randstad you can get there easily. Popular routes are the Kleintje Utrechtse Heuvelrug, and there are events such as the Hel van de Heuvelrug and the Tour du Jour in Driebergen. A few routes from Op de Heuvelrug:
- The Eight from Amerongen (138 km): for the endurance runners.
- Tour of Oosterbeek with Italianweg and Amerongse Berg (88 km): a lot of elevation change, so for the hard workers.
- Leaking pipes and climbing the Utrecht Hills (83 km): the dyke along the Lek and the hills.
- The most beautiful of Heuvelrug (75 km): forests, villages, towns and water.
- NL Grit series 60K (66 km): through Utrecht and Gelderland, along the water.
Close with bicycle café De Proloog in Amerongen, where cycling is central.
Mountainbike and gravel
More than 95 kilometers of mountain biking trails wind through the forests of the National Park, divided into nine routes. According to MTBroutes.nl, four of them are among the top 10 in the Netherlands. An MTB vignette is mandatory. On the gravel bike you have the wide forest trails and dirt roads, as on our routes Gravel round of Amerongse Berg and Let the Stigterpad.
Our routes
- Heuvelrug Highlights: our favorite tour from Utrecht.
- Sunday Ride HeuvelrugThe shorter Sunday version.
When are you leaving?
All year round. The sandy unpaved road remains passable even after rain.
How do you get there?
By train to Driebergen-Zeist, Maarn, Veenendaal-De Klomp or Rhenen, or by car within an hour from the Randstad.
This is how we calculate: We calculate distances and travel times starting from Utrecht. Our flights always depart from Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport or Eindhoven Airport. Want to know how to travel from your place of residence the best way? Let us know, We are happy to help you. After all, we built this site together.
Are you flying? Read our guide Flying with your bike: Which airline, what the cost is and how to pack your bike.
More stories about Utrecht's Heuvelrug
Events in Utrecht's Heuvelrug
2026Gravel race Omloop van GeffenGiffen, Netherlands · 70 kmgravel25 Oct
2026Autumn trip of BatauwersTiel, Netherlands · 80 kmrace bike31 Oct
2026Klinker Classic GravelNijkerk, Netherlands · 60, 50 kmgravel31 Oct
2026Hiking tourStroe, Nederland · 85, 64 kmgravel7 November
2026VOEK Autumn ClassicNijkerk, Netherlands · 105, 80, 60 kmgravel7 November
2026VOEK Autumn Classic (race bike)Nijkerk, Netherlands · 110, 80, 60 kmrace bike12 Dec
2026Oliebollentocht GravelStroe, Netherlands · 90, 70 kmgravel26 Dec
2026Gravel Christmas WalkSchaijk, Nederland · 78 kmgravel
