Jonkershoek route advice

[Craig Armstrong]

Hi everyone,

 

On Friday I am going to venture into Jonkershoek for the first time. 

I am a little bit overwhelmed by the network of paths on the trail map.

 

Does anyone have a map file or a Strava ride or something that I can use as a reference to plan my ride out. 

I'm hoping for something between 20-30km (From the parking lot) with as much fun single track as possible. Looking for the fun descents like G Spot, etc. 

 

Basically, I'm hoping for some advice as to how I can construct a route with as much downhills as possible while still keeping it below 30km.

 

Much appreciated

[Twaatie]

Hi everyone,

 

On Friday I am going to venture into Jonkershoek for the first time.

I am a little bit overwhelmed by the network of paths on the trail map.

 

Does anyone have a map file or a Strava ride or something that I can use as a reference to plan my ride out.

I'm hoping for something between 20-30km (From the parking lot) with as much fun single track as possible. Looking for the fun descents like G Spot, etc.

 

Basically, I'm hoping for some advice as to how I can construct a route with as much downhills as possible while still keeping it below 30km.

 

Much appreciated

https://www.irideafrica.com

[Robbie Stewart]

Hey Craig.

Best to plan your ride, as you will not find G-Spot anywhere in the Jonkershoek valley. It is on the other side of Coetzenburg, which is rather a distance from Jonkers.

 

Apart from that, you will not need to go looking for the g-spot, as you will find fulfillment in the trails on offer at Jonkers. Armageddon, Red Phoenix, Neverendingstory, Firehut are all super rides, and you will not want to ride other trails on the day.

Also, remember to pack your climbing legs, you will need them.

[Thermophage]

Neverendnig Story only (https://www.strava.com/activities/2216921092)

A few other trails thrown in (https://www.strava.com/activities/1955974660 and https://www.strava.com/activities/760090705)

[ABrooks]

Depending on how my week goes I can join you if you are keen. we can do firehut & Zululand.

Firehut is a bit more technical and zululand Nice and flowy like G-spot. After that we can go and do neverending story.

 

Or we can do any of the trails recommended here.

[Craig Armstrong]

https://www.irideafrica.com

 

Thanks, I've seen the map of Jonkershoek on this website. The issue is creating a route from the map. Is there something else worth seeing on the site? 

 

Hey Craig.

 

Best to plan your ride, as you will not find G-Spot anywhere in the Jonkershoek valley. It is on the other side of Coetzenburg, which is rather a distance from Jonkers.

 

Apart from that, you will not need to go looking for the g-spot, as you will find fulfillment in the trails on offer at Jonkers. Armageddon, Red Phoenix, Neverendingstory, Firehut are all super rides, and you will not want to ride other trails on the day.

 

Also, remember to pack your climbing legs, you will need them.

 

Haha my apologies, I guess I was unclear in my post. I didn't mean I want to include G Spot in the ride, I meant that I'm looking for parts of Jonkershoek that are like G Spot. Will check out Armageddon, Red Phoenix, Neverendingstory and Firehut.

Thanks

 

Neverendnig Story only (https://www.strava.com/activities/2216921092)

A few other trails thrown in (https://www.strava.com/activities/1955974660 and https://www.strava.com/activities/760090705)

 

Thanks so much, this is exactly the type of thing that I was hoping for.

 

Depending on how my week goes I can join you if you are keen. we can do firehut & Zululand.

Firehut is a bit more technical and zululand Nice and flowy like G-spot. After that we can go and do neverending story.

 

Or we can do any of the trails recommended here.

 

I appreciate the invite, but I plan to ride with a friend of mine on Friday who's not the fastest rider around. I'd hate to slow down someone else's ride. Maybe we'll cross paths on the trail though!

[CdT85]

Go up on the right side,  entering Jonkershoek from the Main Gate, and do the Fire hut trails as a warm up.

 

The go up to Saaltjie on the left side, and do the whole Armageddon. If you have legs left, climb back up to the waterfall trail head and either do Red Phoenix or Never Ending Story.

[Craig Armstrong]

Go up on the right side,  entering Jonkershoek from the Main Gate, and do the Fire hut trails as a warm up.

 

The go up to Saaltjie on the left side, and do the whole Armageddon. If you have legs left, climb back up to the waterfall trail head and either do Red Phoenix or Never Ending Story.

 

Awesome advice, I think I might plan my ride like that.

 

Just so I know what I'm getting myself into, how hard are the red lines of Jonkers?

 

I mean.. are there big drops and lots of rocks, or is it G Spot kind of riding? 

[Thermophage]

Awesome advice, I think I might plan my ride like that.

 

Just so I know what I'm getting myself into, how hard are the red lines of Jonkers?

 

I mean.. are there big drops and lots of rocks, or is it G Spot kind of riding? You'll be fine

[CdT85]

Awesome advice, I think I might plan my ride like that.

 

Just so I know what I'm getting myself into, how hard are the red lines of Jonkers?

 

I mean.. are there big drops and lots of rocks, or is it G Spot kind of riding? 

 

The red routes (Aarmageddon / Red Phoenix) is not that bad. there is also plenty videos on youtube to prepare you mentally for it.

[Craig Armstrong]

Is the canary segment on this map an uphill or downhill?

https://www.irideafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/jonkershoek-map-2018.png

 

On trailforks it says it uphill, but it also seems to be the bottom part of Zululand, which is downhill. So I'm kind of confused.

https://www.trailforks.com/region/jonkershoek-nature-reserve/?activitytype=1&z=14.4&lat=-33.97064&lon=18.94179

 

So my route so far (using trailforks for paths and names) looks like I'll swing right from the entrance and follow the sirkelpad until Bosluis, and then go up and down Fire Hut.

Once at the bottom it looks like I'll follow the first little bit of Forestry road (Just next to the Armageddon downhill) and then swing left and follow Saaltjie all the way to the top, and then bomb down Armageddon to the bottom. 

 

Then I can't seem to work out the correct way to get to the top of Neverendingstory.

Should I follow the circular path around to the other side, or should I go back up forestry road and then across level 2 contour?

Trailforks doesn't seem to show any way to get to the very top of Neverendingstory. 

[NickGM]

Hi everyone,

 

On Friday I am going to venture into Jonkershoek for the first time. 

I am a little bit overwhelmed by the network of paths on the trail map.

 

Does anyone have a map file or a Strava ride or something that I can use as a reference to plan my ride out. 

I'm hoping for something between 20-30km (From the parking lot) with as much fun single track as possible. Looking for the fun descents like G Spot, etc. 

 

Basically, I'm hoping for some advice as to how I can construct a route with as much downhills as possible while still keeping it below 30km.

 

Much appreciated

For the kind of flowy riding G spot has, I would definitely recommend the fire hut trails on the right (as you come in). Then on the left, Zululand is great. Also look on strava for segments called corkscrew, rooikat and oom hansie. They are all around there on the left and are brilliant. Well they were the last time I rode them. 

 

Red Phoenix was once great, but the last time I road it, it was severely rutted to the point of not being that much fun. 

 

The canaries are rocky but really great trails too (because of the rocks, not in spite of them). 

[cpelser]

Go up on the right side,  entering Jonkershoek from the Main Gate, and do the Fire hut trails as a warm up.

 

The go up to Saaltjie on the left side, and do the whole Armageddon. If you have legs left, climb back up to the waterfall trail head and either do Red Phoenix or Never Ending Story.

 

This. I'd skip Never Ending Story though, it's boring.

So basically enter Jonkers, go straight for a couple of hundred meters until you see the right turn towards FireHut - I may be mistaken but I think there's a board that says "Quarry" to the right. You will end up more or less where you began.

Then ride back to the entrance, and turn around as if you're entering Jonkers again.

 

This time, as you enter Jonkers from the gate, within 20m in is a left turn, take all the "Saaltjie" boards until you get to the Armageddon trailhead. The climb goes up 7 or 8 contour lines. I usually take contour 5 and go to the Armageddon trailhead from there and ride down as I don't really feel the steep climb up the last two contours are worth it.

 

Ride all the way down, at some point you get to choose Zululand left, or normal Armageddon right. Zululand has MASSIVE jumps that's too large for me to take (for now) while continuing down Armageddon has smaller lips etc etc.

 

If you're riding there first time and still have legs, I'd probably do Armageddon again because the first time you'll likely ride down a bit slowly to check out all the obstacles etc.

 

[Grease_Monkey]

Awesome advice, I think I might plan my ride like that.

 

Just so I know what I'm getting myself into, how hard are the red lines of Jonkers?

 

I mean.. are there big drops and lots of rocks, or is it G Spot kind of riding?

They are techy and challenging, but most somewhat expetienced riders will get down with a big smile on their face. There are one or two rock rolls, but no big drops or jumps. You see everything coming and if something is too much you will have plenty of time to get off and walk it. It's nothing like G spot - G spot is a flow trail, Jonkers is more natural in the sense that it is rockier and steeper with less manicured features.

 

The red lines are lots of fun.

 

The black lines are tougher, if one day you are up for it start at Iron Monkey, some techny rock gardens and some nice drops. I would say it's the easiest of the black trails in Jonkers.

[cpelser]

Then I can't seem to work out the correct way to get to the top of Neverendingstory.

Should I follow the circular path around to the other side, or should I go back up forestry road and then across level 2 contour?

Trailforks doesn't seem to show any way to get to the very top of Neverendingstory. 

 

Yup go back up the same route but from contour 5 just continue straight on. Never Ending Story is meh though....

[Grease_Monkey]

Oh, you don't necessarily want to go to the very top of never ending - there are 4 sections - the top one being quite unkept and involves a few mandatory portage sections. Do the bottom 3 sections - good fun, and a lekker fast trail. Jonkershoek has recently been very well marked with signage to Saaltjie (Iron Monkey, Status Quo, and Armageddon), Waterfall (Plumber, Red Phoenix, and Never ending a bit lower down), as well as Quarry trailhead (on the right side of the valley - Firehut trail). You will find your way around once you get in there...

 

Just be ready to climb, 30km in Jonkers is no joke.