Trompsburg Karoo Loop
Trompsburg sits on the northern edge of the Great Karoo in the far south of the Free State — a small dorpie surrounded by the semi-arid landscape where the Highveld transitions to Karoo. The 40km gravel loop is a remote, meditative ride through a landscape of exceptional silence, vast scale and spare Karoo beauty.
What to Expect
Gravel roads on flat to gently rolling Karoo-edge terrain. Sparse Karoo scrub, rocky outcrops, the occasional windmill and vast open sky characterise the landscape. The riding demands no technical skill but the exposure, heat and isolation require solid preparation. This is one of the most remote rides in the Free State.
The Karoo Experience
The southern Free State Karoo is one of South Africa’s most profound natural landscapes — the silence is literal, the scale is enormous and the clarity of the light is extraordinary. Riding here requires patience and respect for the environment’s demands, but rewards with an experience entirely unlike anywhere else in the province.
Getting There
Trompsburg is on the R717 in the far south of the Free State. GPS: -30.0234, 25.7812.
n
🌐 Visit Official Trail Website →
More Trails in Free State
9 trailsClarens 34.71 Mile Loop
56km advanced epic from Clarens — the full sandstone mountain experience with extended climbing, technical descents…
Vrede 25.81 Mile Route
42km intermediate gravel loop from Vrede through the northern Free State highlands near the KwaZulu-Natal border…
Van Reenen Pass Descent
25km advanced descent of the Van Reenen Pass from the KwaZulu-Natal escarpment down to the Free…
Thabo Mofutsanyana Highland Trail
35km advanced highland trail through the Thabo Mofutsanyana District — high-altitude MTB in the Maluti Mountains…
Bloemfontein Botanical Garden Loop
Easy 8km loop through the Bloemfontein Botanical Garden — a scenic, accessible city ride through manicured…
Golden Gate Mushroom Rock Route
22km intermediate route through Golden Gate National Park to the iconic Mushroom Rock formation — sandstone…
Parys Vredefort Dome Loop
45km advanced loop around the Vredefort Dome — the world's largest and oldest meteorite impact crater,…
Thaba Nchu Mountain Loop
22km advanced MTB loop around the Thaba Nchu mountain in Maria Moroka National Park — rocky…
Ventersburg Challenge Loop
42km intermediate gravel challenge from Ventersburg — a longer loop through the central Free State goldfields…
