Golden Gate Mushroom Rock Route

The Mushroom Rock Route is Golden Gate’s most scenic intermediate trail — a 22km loop that threads through the park’s highland terrain to reach the extraordinary Mushroom Rock formation, a sandstone pillar balanced impossibly on a narrow base that has become one of the park’s most photographed landmarks.

What to Expect

Singletrack and gravel tracks connect the valley floor to the sandstone terrain around Mushroom Rock. The riding is intermediate in difficulty with steady climbing and some rocky sections. The geological scenery is the star — the sandstone formations in the Mushroom Rock area are genuinely spectacular, with layered coloured rock in shades of gold, ochre and rust.

Wildlife on Route

The route passes through open highland grassland where eland, blesbok and zebra are regularly encountered. The park’s lammergeier (bearded vulture) population is also frequently visible from the higher sections of the route.

Getting There

Golden Gate National Park entrance on the R712, 15km from Clarens. GPS: -28.5234, 28.6234.

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