Gravel Road near Cape Town

[eddy]

I'm in Cape Town, staying in Green Point and would like to do a gravel ride in the vicinity - maybe as far out as Paarl/Franschoek.

We're happy to drive out and make a day (or half day) of it.

We're not looking for trails, but a quiet, safe dirt road we can do around 50km on an out and back or loop.

 

[ChrisF]

@Mamil @Jbr and a few others will soon chip in and tell you all about the vast network of gravel roads

[babse]

Majority here just roll up to chappies and back on their gravel steeds...

[MongooseMan]

Quite a few topics on this:

 

[MongooseMan]

With that said, if you asked me for a 50k gravel route, here's what I'd suggest:
https://www.strava.com/routes/3349433692798663906

https://www.strava.com/routes/3349434012327790004

[Mamil]

When you live n the southern suburbs it's 35k and a "take your life in your hands" sprint over vanguard drive bridge to get to the gravelly goodness of the north which basically starts at occultdale Rd. 

[milky4130]

3 hours ago, Mamil said:

When you live n the southern suburbs it's 35k and a "take your life in your hands" sprint over vanguard drive bridge to get to the gravelly goodness of the north which basically starts at occultdale Rd. 

Ride on the side walk its what I do most days I commute from North to South and back in the afternoon.

[ChrisF]

2 hours ago, milky4130 said:

Ride on the side walk its what I do most days I commute from North to South and back in the afternoon.

 

Sadly crossing the North South devide is more about running the muggers gauntlet than surving the traffic ... thougb there most certainly are a few spots that are not exactly cyclist friendly 

[Mamil]

7 hours ago, milky4130 said:

Ride on the side walk its what I do most days I commute from North to South and back in the afternoon.

 

4 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

Sadly crossing the North South devide is more about running the muggers gauntlet than surving the traffic ... thougb there most certainly are a few spots that are not exactly cyclist friendly 

Ja took me a few goes to realise that riding on the pavement next to the GrandWest offramp is the way to go.

If I ever have an opportunity to pin down the NMT Mayco member he's getting an earful

[John Gomes]

My son and I discovered awesome gravel roads between Malmsbury and Riebeeck Kasteel while training for Swartberg this coming weekend.  Nice climbs and road surface

[guidodg]

just come to Greyton www. greytonmtb.co.za

 

[Vaultboy]

On 4/21/2025 at 6:15 PM, MongooseMan said:

With that said, if you asked me for a 50k gravel route, here's what I'd suggest:
https://www.strava.com/routes/3349433692798663906

https://www.strava.com/routes/3349434012327790004

I would add that you can simply also do an up, over and around Paarl Mountain for 50km and 750m climbing. 

The best, closest gravel is Klapmuts all the way to Riebeeck-Wes. Lots of options, mostly gravel. 

Durbanville has what...Spes, Occultdale and Capaia with lots of tar in between?

[Anthem24]

14 hours ago, Mamil said:

 

Ja took me a few goes to realise that riding on the pavement next to the GrandWest offramp is the way to go.

If I ever have an opportunity to pin down the NMT Mayco member he's getting an earful

Don't know about the Mayco member but the Premier was checking out the province's gravel offerings over Easter:

https://www.facebook.com/windealan/posts/pfbid02TPN5QDywhzstZ9Fnp1jty6tFGLgwtj8uMAfmCyU7L9XUGL2QRUYPQXEBgbwAS2D5l

[eddy]

2 hours ago, guidodg said:

just come to Greyton www. greytonmtb.co.za

 

We've ridden there before, Pie run etc. But it is a bit far for a morning away. We'll be back though.

Edited Tuesday at 08:20 PM by eddy

[Skubarra]

On 4/21/2025 at 4:58 PM, eddy said:

I'm in Cape Town, staying in Green Point and would like to do a gravel ride in the vicinity - maybe as far out as Paarl/Franschoek.

We're happy to drive out and make a day (or half day) of it.

We're not looking for trails, but a quiet, safe dirt road we can do around 50km on an out and back or loop.

 

My opinion - the most scenic/smooth gravel in the area is north of Wellington to Hermon/Riebeeck Kasteel.

Park at a mall in Wellington, take the Old Hermon road north. Have coffee/breakfast at the Hermon farm stall or in Riebeek Kasteel if you want to go out slightly further. Then take the Porseleinberg gravel road back to Wellington. If you want to extend the ride loads of options north of Riebeek Kasteel or even to the Malmesbury side.

Paarl/Durbanville have options but it would include lots of tar, more corrugations and roads are generally more busy.

[Tomik]

If you want to ride from Green Point, I think this is superb. Not "gravel" per definition but we ride our gravel bites as there was a fair amount of dirt road.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14162513354

A bit longer than 50km, but some of the best tar roads in CT and great green belts through Constantia and even some of Table Mountain's tracks. Only the very last dirt section on TM to Vredehoek is a bit rough but rideable.

I rode a Trek Checkpoint with 45mm tyres. Mate was on a Silverback with 38mm tyres. Some MTB skills required but nothing hectic.