10 Best hiking trails in Cape Town in 2023

There are many amazing hiking trails in Cape Town of different lengths and difficulty levels. From easy routes suitable for children to challenging hikes that require some rock climbing skills. We’ve chosen our top 10 favorite trails in the city. Regardless of which one you decide to walk the scenery won’t disappoint you.

Suggested tours and activities

• Hike Table Mountain or Lions Head in Cape Town Like a Local
• Mountain Bike | Walk | Hiking | Cape Town | Table Mountain Tour
• Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour from Cape Town

Easy hiking trails in Cape Town

Lion’s Head hike

• Distance – 5,5 km return
• Time – 1h30min. – 2 hours return
• Elevation gain/loss – 387 m
• Terrain – gravel path, rocks and boulders, ladders, and chains (optional route).
• Cost – free
• Best time – sunset is the most spectacular time for the hike. Sunrise is a beautiful time as well though in summer you’ll have to get up very early to make it to the top in time. You can join a guided Lion’s Head sunset or sunrise hike if you don’t want to walk alone.
• Starting/finishing point – the parking lot on Signal Hill Road next to the Vida coffee truck.
• Parking – free at Lion’s Head parking or along Signal Hill Road.
• Dog-friendly – yes, the last part of the hike involves some climbing and scrambling not the best for dogs.

Lion’s Head tours

• Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike
• Lion’s Head Tandem Paragliding Experience

Highlights

• Stunning views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, Clifton Beaches, Camps Bay, Cape Peninsula, Robben Island, and the Atlantic Ocean.
• Sunset/sunrise from the top.

Challenges

• Long and quite steep ascent from the start of the trail.
• The last part is more difficult especially if you choose the ladders and chains route.

Lion’s Head hike is the most popular hiking trail in Cape Town. It’s definitely one of the main things to do in Cape Town. The hike is not as long and tiring as hiking trails up Table Mountain and is pretty much suitable for anybody. For some people, it’ll be an effortless walk for some more challenging, but it’s definitely doable.

The last part of the trail is a bit more tricky, but if you choose the recommended route (not the ladders and chains one), you’ll be fine. If you don’t feel like climbing all the way to the top you can do a circular route around Lion’s Head without going to the very top and still get stunning views of Cape Town and the coast. 

There are many great coffee shops in Cape Town to stop for breakfast or lunch on the way to or from Lion’s Head.

Maclear’s Beacon trail

• Distance – 5,5 km return
• Time – 1h30min. – 2 hours return
• Elevation gain/loss – 150 m
• Terrain – footpath, boardwalk, occasional rocks, and boulders.
• Cost – free. If you take the cable car up and/or down you’ll have to pay for your ticket.
• Best time for hiking – in summer morning or evening, it gets very hot in the afternoon there is no shade to hide.
• Starting/finishing point – on the top of Table Mountain at Platteklip Gorge, 700 m from the upper cable car station. Maclear’s Beacon is the turnaround point.
• Parking – free along Tafelberg Road before or after the lower cable car station.
• Dog-friendly – yes, it’s a very long walk with no shade to walk to the top, to the beacon, and back down. With a dog, you won’t be allowed to use the cable car. Read more on walking with dogs on Table Mountain.

Highlights

• Great views of Hout Bay, Cape Peninsula, Strand, and Gordon’s Bay.
• Nice landscape, bizarre rock formations, and views of the dams on the top of Table Mountain.
• The monument at Maclear’s Beacon.

Challenges

• The heat and lack of water is the only challenge. Make sure to bring enough water or fill your bottle from the drinking fountain at the exit from the cable car station.

Table Mountain is a must-visit place in Cape Town. The views from the top are truly spectacular. The easiest and fastest option for getting to the top is to take the cable car. If you’re planning to use the hop-on-hop-off bus in Cape Town you can buy a combined bus and cable car ticket.

The Maclear’s Beacon hike is one of the easiest hiking trails on Table Mountain without strenuous ascents or descents. Suitable for travelers with children and elderly people. It’s a return route. The trail starts at Platteklip Gorge and finishes at Maclear’s Beacon. A nice well-marked route with great views of Hout Bay, Cape Peninsula, Cape Flats, Strand, Gordons Bay, etc. The trail ends at Maclear’s Beacon, a man-made triangle rock memorial 5 meters high.

Pipe Track, Table Mountain

• Distance – 8 km return, you can walk as far as you want no need to go all the way. 
• Time – 2 hours return
• Elevation gain/loss – 171 m
• Terrain – rocky footpath
• Cost – free
• Best time for hiking – sunset is the most beautiful time for hiking though I’d recommend not going alone and returning back to your car before it gets dark. Weekend morning is the busiest time for hiking the Pipe track which makes it the safest time as well. 
• Starting/finishing point – across the road from the Kloof Nek parking lot. After 4 km the trail merges with the jeep track you can turn around at that point or continue on the jeep track.
• Parking – free at the Kloof Nek parking lot.
• Dog-friendly – yes, it’s one of our favorite trails to walk with our dog. If you like taking your dogs for adventures we have a post on the best dog-friendly campsites around Cape Town.

Pipe Track with a guide

• Pipetrack Hike for the whole family on Table Mountain

Highlights

• Beautiful views of Lion’s Head, Camps Bay, and Chapman’s Peak.
• Stunning views of the coast and the mountain range.

Challenges

• Nothing in particular though hiking or running this trail off-peak hours isn’t recommended for safety reasons.

Another easy hiking route on Table Mountain with very few ups and downs at the start. It’s suitable for people with children and dogs. The name comes from a massive pipeline along the route, originally it was constructed to lay water pipes to carry water from Table Mountain down to Cape Town. The Pipe Track is one of the oldest hiking trails, it dates back to 1887. 

The Pipe Track can be walked as a part of the Diagonal Trail or Kasteelspoort Trail up Table Mountain if you start/finish at the Kloof Neck parking lot.

The trail goes around Table Mountain on the Camps Bay side you get really nice views of the coast. You don’t get to the top of Table Mountain on this route but the views are still very nice. It’s a great route for running or walking with a dog, it’s our favorite dog-friendly hiking trail in Cape Town. Just make sure to bring enough water for your pet. There are no water sources along the route.

Waterfall hike, Cecilia Forest

• Distance – 5 km loop
• Time – 2 hours
• Elevation gain – 324 m
• Elevation loss – 316 m
• Terrain – footpath, gravel road, jeep track
• Cost – free
• Best time for hiking – weekends morning when it’s not too hot and there are other hikers on the route.
• Starting/finishing point – Cecilia Forest parking lot
• Parking – free at Cecilia Forest car park. If there is no space along Rhodes Drive.
• Dog-friendly – yes, another great hike to walk with dogs.

Highlights

• Beautiful forest
• A picturesque waterfall
• Nice views of the surroundings

Challenges

• The ascent to the waterfall, it’s not very steep but quite long.
• It might get quite hot in summer, make sure to carry enough water.

Another nice and easy hiking trail in Cape Town is through Cecilia Forest. It’s suitable for children, and dogs are allowed on the trail. It’s a loop route that starts at the entrance. The first part can be done on a jeep track or on a footpath. The footpath is quite nice, it starts on the right (sign Cecilia Ravine) and goes up pretty much all the way till you reach the waterfall. It crosses the jeep track a couple of times. The footpath is steeper but a bit shorter than the jeep track.

The first half of the route is through the forest, the second part is on the slopes of the mountains quite exposed to the sun. If you walk in summer make sure to use sunscreen and a cap. Bring water with you. You can refill it at the waterfall. After the waterfall, you continue on the same trail until it joins the Counterpath trail where you turn right and walk back towards the entrance gate. You can combine hiking in Cecilia Forest with visiting wine farms in Constantia Valley, situated just 5 km away.

If you enjoy hiking I’d suggest including the Otter Trail and the Amatola Trail in your South Africa hiking bucket list. Both routes are absolutely spectacular.

Travel insurance for hiking in Cape Town

Since 2002, World Nomads have been protecting, connecting and inspiring independent travelers. They offer simple and flexible travel insurance and safety advice to help you travel confidently.

Moderate/difficult hiking trails in Cape Town

Skeleton Gorge, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

• Distance – 6 km return
• Time – 2h30min. – 3 hours return
• Elevation gain/loss – 600 m
• Terrain – footpath, boardwalks, wooden ladders, rocks, and boulders
• Cost – admission fee to the Kirstenbosch Garden.
• Best time for hiking – any time most of the trail is through the forest you get nice shade on the way up and down.
• Open – daily from 8am to 6pm
• Starting/finishing point – Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. The turnaround point on the top of Table Mountain is 100 m away from Hely Hutchinson Reservoir.
• Parking – there are two free parking lots at the entrance to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.
• Dog-friendly – no, dogs are not allowed inside Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.

Skeleton Gorge with a guide

• Skeleton Gorge to Table Mountain Summit | Guided Hike
• Skeleton Gorge to Maclears Beacon. Table Mountain hike

Highlights

• Stunning lush green forest.
• Small waterfalls and creeks, a picturesque gorge, and many birds.
• Great views of Cape Flats and False Bay from the top.
• A beautiful dam with a sandy beach at the end of the route.

Challenges

• Steep ascent from the start.
• Wet rocks are a bit slippery, not a problem on the way up but have to walk carefully when going down.

This is one of our favorite hiking trails up Table Mountain not for the views but for the scenery along the route. Skeleton Gorge is definitely the greenest hike in Cape Town. Even if you’re not planning to walk up Skeleton Gorge Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is worth including in your Cape Town itinerary.

The area the Skeleton Gorge hike goes through is absolutely beautiful; lush green forest, small creeks, waterfalls, massive boulders, occasional flowers, etc. It’s the only route up Table Mountain that is well-protected from the direct sun. It’s the best trail to take on a hot summer day. The route follows the gorge over rocks and boulders pretty much all the way to the top. At the top, you finish on the opposite side of the cable car, next to a big dam with a nice sandy beach. It’s a great spot for a picnic. 

If you like hiking through a lush green forest with many waterfalls, rivers, and creeks you might enjoy the Outeniqua Trail, a 1-week hike in the Outeniqua forest near Knysna.

Platteklip Gorge, Table Mountain

• Distance – 5,5 km return
• Time – 2 hours return
• Elevation gain/loss – 650 m
• Terrain – rocks and boulders
• Cost – free
• Best time for hiking – morning or evening, it gets very hot during the day there is barely any shadow here.
• Starting/finishing point – Tafelberg Road, 700 m past the Lower Cable Car station. The turnaround point on the top of Table Mountain is 700 m away from the upper cable car station.
• Parking – along the Tafelberg Road past the Lower Cable Car station for free.
• Dog-friendly – yes, though it’s quite a steep up and down, the trail is very exposed to the sun.

Platteklip Gorge with a guide

• Table Mountain: Platteklip Gorge Hike
• Platteklip Gorge Half-Day Hike on Table Mountain

Highlights 

• Nice views of City Bowl and the coast on the way up.
• A beautiful gorge with massive boulders at the end of the trail.

Challenges

• A steep climb from the start to the end.
• The rocky stairs are quite high; it really works your legs.

The Platteklip Gorge hike is the most popular route on Table Mountain and one of the most popular trails in Cape Town. The Platteklip Gorge and the India Venster trails are the best to take if you want to end up near the cable car station on the top. This route is very straightforward without winding around the mountain from the very start it just goes directly to the top. Therefore it’s the shortest route as well.

The route is easy to follow it basically goes straight up from the start till it reaches the top. You don’t have to be an experienced hiker for walking just make sure you have enough water with you.

India Venster, Table Mountain

• Distance – 8,5 km return
• Time – 4 hours return
• Elevation gain/loss – 722 m
• Terrain – footpath, rocks, boulders, ladders.
• Cost – free
• Best time for hiking – in summer early morning before it gets too hot. Not the best route to walk if it’s very windy.
• Starting/finishing point – on the right of the Lower Cable Car station. The trail finishes on the top of Table Mountain, 700 m away from the Upper Cable Car station.
• Parking – along Tafelberg Road before or after the Lower Cable Car station free of charge.
• Dog-friendly – no

India Venster with a guide

• Cape Town: India Venster Table Mountain Hike
• Table Mountain Adventurous Hike & Cable Car Down

Highlights

• Stunning views of Table Mountain, City Bowl, Camps Bay, Chapman’s Peak, etc.
• Great views of the Aerial cable car.

Challenges

• A steep ascent from the start to the end.
• Difficult climbs over rocks and ladders in the middle part of the route.
• The trail is exposed to the sun with no shadow.

In my opinion, the India Venster hike is one of the most challenging trails in Cape Town. This route is the ultimate adventure trail with some steep climbs over rocks and ladders and involves some scrambling, not for the faint-hearted. It’s not a child-friendly hiking trail. it’s not suitable for those who are afraid of heights. I don’t want to put you off. It’s not a technical climb, it’s similar to the ladders and chains part of the Lion’s Head hike except it’s much longer and higher.

The trail is gorgeous with some of the best views of Cape Town and the coast. I’d say this is our favorite route up Table Mountain for the views and overall experience. You can walk this trail both ways up and down but we prefer using a different route or taking the cable car for going down.

Diagonal/Kasteelspoort Trail, Table Mountain

• Distance – 11 km loop if you start on the Pipe Track at Tafelberg Road; about 6 km loop if you start at Theresa Avenue Jeep Trail (Camps Bay).
• Time – 3h30min. – 4 hours, 2h30min.-3 hours the Camps Bay route.
• Elevation gain/loss – 680 m
• Terrain – footpath the first part and rocks and stairs the second part
• Cost – free
• Best time for hiking – morning when there are more people.
• Starting/finishing point – Kloof Corner parking area if you start at Tavelberg Road;
• Parking – if you start at Tafelberg Road – Kloof Nek parking lot for free; if you start at Camps Bay – at one of the nearby streets (Theresa Avenue, Barbara Road) for free.
• Dog-friendly – yes, I’d suggest going up and down the Kasteelspoort trail rather than the Diagonal route.

Kasteelsport with a guide

• Cape Town: Table Mountain Kasteelspoort Hiking Trail
• Kasteelspoort to Table Mountain summit

Highlights

• Fantastic views of Camps Bay, Lion’s Head, Cape Peninsula, etc.
• The Diving board is a rock formation that reminds a diving board of a thrilling place not for the faint-hearted, a great spot for amazing photos.

Challenges

• The climb up on the Diagonal trail is quite steep.
• There is nowhere to refill water – make sure to bring enough.

This route is one of our favorite hiking trails in Cape Town. The trail itself is very diverse and combines 3 different trails; the Pipe Track (the flat and easy part), the Diagonal trail (up), and the Kasteelspoort trail (down). It’s possible to walk up and down following the same trail e.g. both ways on the Diagonal or on the Kasteelspoort trail. The Kasteelspoort route is easier, especially for going down. The Diagonal is more challenging and involves some climbing over big rocks.

This hike is a great option for those who’ve been up Table Mountain on the cable car side and want to see a different part of the mountain. The Diagonal trail is significantly less busy compared to the Kasteelspoort. There are better look-out points with views of Camps Bay and Lion’s Head on the Diagonal Trail though.

Devil’s Peak hike, Table Mountain

• Distance – 6 km return
• Time – 2h30min. – 3 hours return
• Elevation gain/loss – 585 m
• Terrain – footpath, rocks
• Cost – free
• Best time for hiking – early mornings in summer before it gets too hot. For safety reasons, it’s better to walk in on weekends or during public holidays when there are quite a few hikers on the mountain.
• Starting/finishing point – Tafelberg Road, about 2,5 km past the lower cable car station.
• Parking – along Tafelberg Road, free of charge.
• Dog-friendly – yes

Highlights

• Great views of the City Bowl and the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the top, just look back.
• From the top, you get spectacular panoramic views of Table Mountain, Lions Head, the City Bowl, Table Bay, and Robben Island, all the way to the Northern Suburbs.
• Devil’s Peak is the second-highest peak in Table Mountain National Park following Maclear’s Beacon.

Challenges

• The trail to Devil’s Peak has some steep sections at the start and at the top.
• The route is very exposed, take proper sun protection and water.
• Hiking up Devils Peak the wind can be strong on the trail, be careful and take appropriate clothing.
• Hike of moderate difficulty taking 1.5 to 2 hours to climb the 585m to the top (3km).
• Some light scrambling at the end to get to the top.
• Some loose rocks on the footpath.

To ascend Devil’s Peak you have to go through the saddle between Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain. There are three different routes to reach the saddle; from Tafelberg Road on the city side; from Newlands Forest (starting at Rhodes memorial), or the upper contour path from Mowbray Ridge.

To get to the start of the Tafelberg Road trail drive past the cable car station and Platteklip Gorge, continue on Tafelberg road until you reach a Devil’s Peak sign, there will be some cars parked. Tafelberg Road is the most popular and probably the safest and easiest route to take. The path is clear and well-marked, you turn around and follow the same path back from the top. The hike is of moderate difficulty.

The trail starts with some steep switchbacks for the first 1.5km (30 min). The views of the Atlantic Ocean and the CBD are fantastic all the way, just look around. There is a marker at the end of the trail on top of the cairn that marks the summit. At the top, you will be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, city, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Cape of Good Hope hike, Cape Point Nature Reserve

• Distance – 36 km loop
• Time – 2 days
• Elevation gain – 1460 m over 2 days
• Elevation loss – 1500 m over 2 days
• Terrain – footpath, sand, rocks, and boulders
• Cost – ZAR 355/US$24 per person for the hike + Cape Point conservation fee ZAR 85/US$5 for South Africans (adults), ZAR 340/US$23 for foreigners (adults).
• Open – the gate opens at 8am, on the first day of the trail hikers have to register at the entrance before 9am.
• Best time for hiking – October – April, it gets quite windy and hot between December and February.
• Starting/finishing point – Cape Point Nature Reserve entrance gate.
• Parking – free at a safe parking lot inside the park, at the entrance gate.
• Dog-friendly – no

Cape Point with a tour

• Cape Point Nature Tour & Hike (Private)
• Hike Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point Private Customizable Full Day Tour

Highlights

• The stunning coastal scenery of the Cape Point National Park; sandy beaches, cliffs, look-out points, rocky pools, fynbos, etc.
• Diverse wildlife;
• Beautifully located huts with amazing views of Cape Peninsula
• Sunset and sunrise at the park

Challenges

• It gets very windy and hot in summer, make sure you’re protected from the sun. It’s very easy to get sunburned without even realizing it.
• There are no water sources along the trail only at huts, carrying 2l of water per person is recommended.
• The second day is a bit long, over 20 km

Cape of Good Hope is one of the few multi-day hiking trails in Cape Town. The trail is the ultimate adventure for hiking lovers, it’s one of the best hikes at Cape Point National Park. It gives you a chance to explore both sides of Cape Point; the Atlantic side and the False Bay side. Most of the time the trail goes along the coast offering spectacular scenery; dramatic drops, rugged cliffs, white-sand beaches, and bizarre rock formations.

During the hike, you can spot zebras, ostriches, elands, mongooses, tortoises, chameleons, different seabirds, etc. Hikers stay at overnight huts with good facilities inside the park. The trail is marked with yellow poles, it’s quite easy to follow. If you’re not planning to do a 2-day hike Cape Point is a great place for a day trip from Cape Town.

Cape Town hiking trails safety tips

• Don’t hike alone, always go in a group of 2-3 people at least.
• Don’t go hiking at night time.
• If you want to hike one of the less popular trails do it during holidays or over weekends when there are more people.
• Always take enough drinking water with you, especially in summer (1-2l per person depending on the length of the hike). Most trails don’t have water sources along the way.
• Make sure to use sun protection and wear a cap many trails are exposed to the sun with no shade to hide.
• Take photos of rangers’ numbers (usually there is a sign at trailheads) to contact them in case of emergency.
• If we hike on weekdays we usually take our dog (where dogs are allowed) for extra security.

Cape Town hiking packing list

• A small backpack to carry water, snacks, a phone, etc.
• A water bottle, it’s very important to take enough water most hiking trails don’t have any water sources along the route.
• Comfortable shoes for most of the trails you don’t need special hiking boots a pair of trail runners will be fine for walking.
• A hiking cap, especially if you’re going to hike in the summer. In my opinion, spring and early autumn are great for hiking. Overall these months are the best time for visiting Cape Town.
• Walking poles are recommended if you have any knee issues and you’re going on a hike with many ups and downs.
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen