George Botanical Gardens
The trail sets off in a northerly direction from the George Botanical Gardens towards the mountain, following jeep track, single track and gravel road.
There are panoramic views and a run through tunnels, a beautiful indigenous forest. This is a tough run and not recommended for novices.
Outeniqua Traverse (Trail)
The trail is predominantly a well-maintained hiking trail. The surface is mostly gravel with the odd rocky section. There are some tricky sections on the northern slopes where the trail climbs back over the mountain before descending to Tierkop Hut. Depending on the rainfall, the trail in the natural forest regions on the southern slopes can be waterlogged. All the trails start at the George Botanical Gardens in Caledon Street, at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains.
The 38 km trail starts with 5 km along forest tracks at the base of the George Mountains, before turning onto the hiking trail that heads around the mountain. It then climbs 700 m in the next 6km, to give competitors a spectacular view of the surrounding area.
From there the trail descends onto the backside of the mountain, before climbing back over the side to descend back into the forests. The final few kilometres of the trail meander through a spectacular section of natural forest, finishing back at the George Botanical Gardens. This is a tough but achievable run with a total ascent of 2 000 m. This trail forms part of those offered at the Cape Nature Witterfontein Nature Reserve.
The 25km trail starts along the trails and paths running next to the railway line at the base of the mountains, ending up at the upper reaches of the George Dam. From here, the route climbs up to Tierkop hut before turning west and joining the 38km route for the final 12 km that wind through the spectacular natural forests.
This is a beautiful run with great views over George and a total ascent of 700 m. Finally, the 10 km route is for those not feeling up to the 38 km or 25 km routes. The route winds along the various forest jeep-tracks and single-tracks at the base of the George Mountains. This is a fun run with a great atmosphere and around 200 m of ascent.
George serves as a great base from which to explore the Garden Route's diverse scenery and many natural wonders. Head south and away from th...