Mountain biking in Cape Town: Our pick of the 10 best trails

With spring on the way and warmer days on the horizon, hopping on your bike and enjoying a scenic ride through some spectacular scenery with beautiful views is a fantastic way to spend the day. Here are some of the top mountain biking trails in and around Cape Town.

The 10 best mountain biking trails in Cape Town

Table Mountain

Standing sentry over the city, Table Mountain is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks and its lower slopes offer some of the best and most accessible mountain biking in the city.

Trails begin just above Deer Park and dozens of loops with several access points offer a wide variety of routes to follow. These trails tend to be steep and unforgiving so if you think your quads won’t handle the relentless offload ascent, you can access the trails from Tafelberg Road and enjoy downhills towards the city.

Accessible routes featuring both jeep and single tracks suitable for all skill levels have been expertly mapped out by Table Mountain Bikers.

Signal Hill and Lion’s Head

Signal Hill is another inner-city option for getting out, with several single and jeep track trails leading to either side of Signal Hill.

Previously only open to hikers and runners, Signal Hill falls under Table Mountain National Park and trails are often congested with hikers, so riding can be quite slow, but the views are spectacular and well worth dodging the crowds.  

Tokai

Cape Town’s Tokai forest is another mecca for mountain bikers with several trails and exposed jeep tracks winding through the dense forests of eucalyptus, gums, pines, and redwoods.

Located in the Table Mountain National Park, the Tokai mountain bike trails offer something for everyone — from casual riders to seasoned professional athletes.

The trails are only open to the public over weekends and access for mountain bikers is from the Tokai picnic site where there are a limited number of parking bays, so get there early to get your spot.

Bottelary Hills Conservancy

The Bottelary Hills Conservancy (BHC) is a conservation area enclosing the beautiful Bottelary Hills and boasts one of the most celebrated (and secret) mountain biking regions in the Cape.

The rolling hillsides of the conservancy feature dedicated, well-marked routes on farm roads, jeep tracks, and single tracks that wind through the farmlands and vineyards. There is a variety of distances on offer for riders of all fitness levels and skills from easy to highly technical.

Contermanskloof Farm, Durbanville

The tranquil suburb of Durbanville on the outskirts of Cape Town is home to some of the region’s best mountain biking.

Boasting over 70 kilometres of single tracks with plenty of options for beginner, intermediate, and serious mountain bikers alike, Contermanskloof Farm has several Meurant Botha-designed tracks with some challenging climbs.

Helderberg

The Helderberg Mountains in Somerset West offer spectacular views over False Bay.

Helderberg Trails is set on a private farm within the foothills of the mountains just outside Somerset West and provides a variety of trails and routes to suit all skill levels. Trails were designed by Jan Van Schalkwyk and world-class professional mountain biker, Andrew Neethling.

There are flat sections, moderate climbs, and plenty of downhills and on a clear day, you can see the eastern reaches of Table Mountain – well worth the climbs.

Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch

Based in the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands, Jonkershoek has long been a mountain biking haven.

Set within the picturesque valley of Jonkershoek against a backdrop of the towering peaks of the Boland Mountains, the network of trails and forestry roads offer world-class rides for all skills and fitness levels. Try the 18-kilometre Jonkershoek Mountain Bike Loop that winds through beautiful wildflowers and other endemic fauna and flora.  

Delvera Wine Estate, Stellenbosch

The picturesque Delvera Wine Estate in Stellenbosch is another popular mountain biking destination with a variety of mountain biking trails that suit all skill levels.

Designed and built by Meurant Botha, the Delvera mountain bike trails include the Porcupine Trail with six kilometres of challenging single-track routes and the sedate seven-kilometre Farm Trail for beginner and novice riders. Permits are required for the Delvera mountain bike trails and are available online at dirtpass.co.za.

Rhebokskloof, Paarl

The beautiful town of Paarl is home to world-renowned wine farms and some fantastic mountain biking trails, the most celebrated of which is Rhebokskloof Wine Farm.

The farm has two trails leading along the northern slopes of the Paarl Mountains that offer spectacular views of the farm and the valley beyond. Both the 20-kilometre Shiraz route and the 14-kilometre Chardonnay route wind through the natural terrain of granite formations and indigenous fynbos.

Elgin Valley

An hour’s drive from Cape Town, the Elgin Valley in the Grabouw region is the perfect place for a weekend away with plenty of mountain biking.

Elgin is home to some of South Africa’s most celebrated mountain biking terrain and features several trails pioneered and designed by legend Pieter Visser to accommodate all skill levels. A range of trails, the valley’s cool climate, and an array of quaint little places to stay, make the Elgin Valley a mountain biking must.