CLOSEST TOWN > Clarens TRAIL DESTINATION > Golden Gate National Park DISTANCE > 50km (Various) GRADING > Intermadiate
Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the surrounding Maluti Mountains offer a selection of riding options, although the roads inside the SA section of the park are all (sadly) tarmac. However, Bokpoort-Bergwoning- and other farms in the area offer dirt riding along gravel roads, 4×4 routes and game or cattle tracks.
On your bike
Beyond Golden Gate, the rough and ready gravel roads of the erstwhile Qua-Qua homeland buck and slide along gnarly valleys and craggy horizons. In some cases, access and/or permits need to be arranged beforehand with private landowners and the national parks authorities, but generally folk up here in the Eastern Free State are friendly and down-to-earth, so the process should be relatively painless.
For a tarmac cruise from Clarens, crank along the R712 towards Golden Gate (13.4km), turning right onto the Blesbok Loop after approximately 2km. This 6.7km one-way loop climbs steeply into eland country, offering panoramic views, an inexhaustible supply of fresh air and a skittish switchback downhill back onto the R712. Hit a sharp left almost immediately to explore the Oribi Loop, a bonus 4.2km of highland cranking amongst zebra, wildebeest, mountain reedbuck and chacma baboon. A speedy 22.5km cruise back into Clarens makes for a total riding distance just shy of 50km.
GRADING:
An easy crank along tar, but at least it gets you out the house and into an awesome national park.
DURATION:
Around 2-3 hours in the saddle
CONFIGURATION :
A there-and-back ride with two loop options into the park.
START POINT:
In Clarens, but you could drive the 13 kays to the park headquarters and start there.
TERRAIN:
Tarmac roads (sorry about that …)
MAP:
A map of the park roads is available from Reception.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Regular park entry fees apply to riders.
FACILITIES:
Full range of amenities at Golden Gate and in Clarens
Contact Details
- Phone: 058-255-0075
- Website: www.mtbroutes.co.za
