The Best Hiking Spots in Cape Town

What is better than experiencing the great outdoors, fresh air and making unforgettable memories? Take a hike in Cape Town and you are guaranteed to experience this first-hand. Cape Town has a hike for everyone. Regardless of your age or physical fitness level, there are a wide variety of hikes that range from super easy to the more advanced and experienced. We have put together a list of the best hiking spots in Cape Town for you to choose from. Build your hiking itinerary from here to avoid missing out on some hidden gems that are not to be missed. Let us know which is your favourite hike in the comment section below.

1. Lion’s Head

The most-popular hike amongst locals and visitors alike is definitely Lion’s Head. This hike is ranked as an easy to moderate hike, depending on whether you climb the chains during the one point of the hike, or if you opt to go along the flat alternative route, adding an additional 5 minutes onto your hiking time. The hike itself is relatively straightforward with great signage throughout the route. This hike offers you the most beautiful panoramic views of the city as the hiking trail follows a circular spiral up the mountain. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you will see the most incredible scenery and views, giving you the perfect Instagram photo opportunities. This hike usually takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete fully making it the perfect morning or sunset hike.    

2. Platteklip Gorge

This hike is arguably a close second in terms of popularity of Cape Town hiking trails and is based on Table Mountain. This trail is often underestimated in terms of difficulty. There is a lot of walking, minimal shade and unpredictable weather. We do suggest that you start early in the morning and hike up this trail, and then take the cable car back down. We also suggest that you avoid this hike if there is a lot of cloud coverage over Table Mountain, as the views will be hindered and it can cause confusion along the route. But don’t be discouraged, if you are a hike lover and don’t mind a steep trail, then this track is definitely for you. Once you reach the top summit of Table Mountain you will be in awe of the views, not to mention feel unbelievably proud that you completed your hike up the iconic Table Mountain. This hike will take you about 3 hours to complete from the bottom up to the top of the summit with a 3km trail.

3. Maclear’s Beacon

If you want to reach the highest peak of Table Mountain then Maclear’s beacon is the trail for you. The most popular way to reach this peak amongst hikers is to take a cable car up to the top base of Table Mountain, then you will follow the path which leads to Pletteklip Gorge and take the flat top hiking path towards the beacon. Make sure you see plaque 13 and 14 to ensure that you are headed in the right direction. The views are incredible once you reach the beacon and have become very popular on Instagram. This hike will take you about an hour to reach the 3m beacon.

4. Skeleton Gorge

Skeleton Gorge begins at the popular Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. This trail is definitely a trail that requires hikers to be more experienced as the route itself is rather strenuous, steep and demanding. The hike starts out surrounded by a ravine, with the first half of the hike being surrounded by a forest with the most beautiful and luscious flora. If you prefer a leisurely hike then this is not the best hiking trail for you. Expect rocks, streams, and a lot of greenery amongst the thick dense forest hike. There are various steep points which require you to climb up wooden ladders. You can use the Smuts track to reach Maclear’s Beacon, the highest point on Table Mountain (see number 3). This hike will take you from one side of Table Mountain to the other, and back again. We suggest that you avoid this hike if there have been heavy rains during the past few days as it can become slippery. The 6.5km hike will take you about 4 to 6 hours to complete from the start and end at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. If you would prefer to take the Cable Car down then you can do this by accessing it on the way down from Maclear’s Beacon, or you can alternatively go down via Pletteklip Gorge (see number 2).  

5. Devil’s Peak

This hike has three route options, but we suggest that you follow the trail leading from Tafelberg Road. The route initially begins with a zig zag structure which then leads you to the contour path. You will take a left turn at the Devil’s Peak sign and continue to walk up to the Ssaddle from there. You will follow the designated path and make another left turn towards Devil’s Peak. You will continue to follow the steep path all the way to the top. Once you reach the top you will have incredible views of the whole city. You can very clearly see Table Bay, False Bay and the Cape Town southern suburbs. You will then head back down the same way that you came up. If you prefer a more challenging route, then we suggest that you take the Mowbray Ridge trail. Don’t forget to stop and take in the breath-taking views along the trail, not just at the top. This trail will take about 4 hours to complete.

6. Elephant’s Eye

This is a popular short hike to undertake in Cape Town with the difficulty level being rather easy making it a great choice for all types of hikers. For the easiest route, you can drive up to Silvermine reservoir car park and park your vehicle there. There is a small fee to park here, so we advise that you bring some cash with you to avoid disappointment. The hike is relatively level with very little steep areas. We suggest that you bring swimming clothes with you so that you can take a dip into the Silvermine reservoir once you have completed your hike and bring along a picnic basket to enjoy amongst yourselves. If you would like to make a braai (BBQ), you are required to book a braai spot with the Silvermine officials. You can do this by calling +27 21 712 7471. The hike up will take about 2 hours, therefore it is recommended to put aside about 4 to 5 hours to really enjoy the area, views and picnic experience.

7. Constantia Nek To Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

This is one of the easiest hikes in the Mother City and is suitable for all types of hikers. This is a lovely morning or lunch time hike with a nice and comfortable near-level pathway. This relaxing 6km hike will take you between 2 to 4 hours to complete. The best part of this hike, is that you can explore the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens once you reach the end. Enjoy lunch at Moyo or take a picnic with you and relax in the gardens upon arrival. We highly recommend that you take a walk along the tree canopy walkway, named the Boomslang, for it’s snake like appearance.

8. The Pipe Track

This hike begins in Kloof Nek Road and travels all the way to Camps Bay, essentially going around the side of the mountains. The views are amazing on this hike with an abundance of pretty flora found along it, and because it is not as popular as the above trails, you won’t need to worry about massive crowds of people constantly passing by you. Expect to be hiking on constant uneven terrain so hiking shoes are a must; just because this trail is relatively easy, you still need to be dressed appropriately. We suggest that you do this trail in a large group as it is a more secluded trail as opposed to the trails mentioned above. There are numerous alternative pathways that lead from the designated Pipe Track path, but it is not recommended to take these without a knowledgeable guide accompanying your group. This hike has the best views in the afternoon and will give you the perfect view of Lion’s Head. This 6km hike will take about 3 hours to complete from the start to the end.     

9. Woodstock Caves

Love the idea of exploring one of the largest caves on Table Mountain? Then the ever-popular Woodstock Caves hike is the one for you. This cave is found along Devil’s Peak (see number 5) and can be seen from the local suburbs of Salt River and Woodstock. The trail begins and ends at Rhodes Memorial. A major highlight to this hike is the epic views of Table Bay and Lion’s Head as well as the city below. We suggest that you bring along a picnic basket filled with yummy snacks which you can enjoy in the cave once you reach it. The cave is a 50-meter-wide space that is very cool and has local graffiti art painted on the inside of it. This hike usually takes about 1 hour to reach the cave, so we suggest that you allow for about 3 hours if you would like to enjoy a picnic before descending back down.

10. Deer Park

Our final suggestion is the easiest spot to get to, located conveniently in Vredehoek, nestled on the foot of Table Mountain. There are numerous trails to explore in the park which range in difficulty with some very easy and relaxing trails that are specifically great for those who are looking to take it easy instead of really challenging themselves. You can also gain access to Devil’s Peak (see number 5) and Woodstock Cave (see number 9) from Deer Park. The average trail will take you about an hour to complete. There is a lovely café located at the end of Deer Park drive where you can grab a coffee and light lunch after you have completed your hike.

The above hiking locations are absolutely worth it! With such a large selection with varying difficulty levels, there is something for everyone. We suggest that you do them all, or at least as many as you can. As with anywhere in the world, hikers need to take the necessary safety precautions before embarking on their hike. We suggest that you never hike alone, always stay on the designated hiking trails, do not flash your valuables around, avoid hiking on a rainy day especially if you are a beginner hiker, and ensure that you dress appropriately to avoid discomfort or injury. Let us know which is your absolute favourite hiking trail below. Enjoy your hiking ventures, and don’t forget to take a fully charged camera or phone to capture your wonderful memories.

Isabella Juskova from Unsplash.