Diverse singletrack through wine farms on the slopes of the iconic Simonsberg mountain — from flowing vineyard contour trails to expert DH lines built by farm owner Jan van Schalkwyk and pro rider Andrew Neethling, with bike hire, shuttles and a trail centre at Muratie Wine Farm.
The heart of the Tygerberg MTB network — the Bloemendal Trail Park is home to a pump track, the legendary Bloemendaaler (rated 4.9/5), beginner purpose-built singletrack and the café-bar that has fuelled Cape Town MTB culture for years.
Hellsend Dirt Compound sits at the end of the iconic Helshoogte Pass outside Stellenbosch and is unlike anything else in South African mountain biking. Created and maintained by The Trails Crew — the same team behind some of South Africa’s best trail-building projects — Hellsend is a private freeride and dirt jump compound that showcases the absolute pinnacle of domestic trail craftsmanship.
The compound features progressive dirt jump lines from beginner-friendly small rollers all the way up to expert-level large gap jumps that have attracted World Cup riders and international pros. The Flow Line is a continuous bermed descent of rhythmic perfection. Expert DH lines drop from the upper property and the freeride zone includes wall rides, drops and gap features that put Hellsend firmly on the global gravity riding map.
Hellsend is not a public trail — access is by open session only (announced via Instagram @hellsend_dirtcompound) or by booking a private shoot or event through The Trails Crew. The annual Hellsend Dirt Party is one of the most anticipated events in the SA MTB calendar, attracting the country’s best gravity riders.
Important: Check Instagram @hellsend_dirtcompound for open session dates before travelling. The compound is currently closed to casual access except during announced sessions.
Located on the R310 Helshoogte Pass Road between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. GPS: -33.9089, 18.9312. Follow Instagram for access directions on open session days.
A single well-marked 10km circular loop on the beautiful Dornier Wine Estate — mostly singletrack through fynbos, vineyard and forest with berms and river sections, connecting to neighbouring farms Stellenzicht and beyond for longer rides.
A demanding 25km loop over the Noordhoek Peak on the Cape Peninsula’s wild Atlantic-facing slopes — gravel tracks and natural paths through open fynbos with views across Noordhoek Beach, the Atlantic Ocean and Chapman’s Peak.
A classic Cape Peninsula mountain traverse from Ou Wapad to the Silvermine Reservoir — open jeep tracks across the exposed Constantiaberg plateau with views of both the Atlantic and False Bay, popular as a one-way shuttle ride or an out-and-back challenge.
Remote multi-day MTB touring through the Cederberg Wilderness — dramatic sandstone rock formations, ancient cedar forests, crystal-clear mountain streams and the Sneeuberg peak at 2,027m. One of South Africa’s most spectacular wilderness riding environments.
Community-built singletrack network on the Saasveld campus of the South Cape TVET College in George — flowing trails through indigenous forest and plantation, beloved by the George MTB community and a hidden gem of Garden Route trail riding.
130km of trails across 20 private wine farms in the Bottelary Hills outside Stellenbosch — winding through vineyards, renosterveld and farmland with colour-coded routes from beginner orange loops to challenging red descents. Funds conservation of critically endangered Renosterveld fynbos.
South Africa’s largest MTB trail network by membership — 182km across 15 farms in the Durbanville Hills, managed by the world’s largest MTB club with over 6,000 members. Multiple trail hubs from beginner flows to XCO-specific race trails, all within 25 minutes of Cape Town.