Level Epic
To understand Jonkershoek you really have to appreciate that it is a commercial forest, and that it is regularly harvested. This means trails are always changing, disappearing, rebuilt, morphing into different routes and generally keeping you on your toes. This means that almost any trail you ride in Jonkershoek today will be completely unrecognisable in two years’ time.
On this note, trail-scaping guru Hylton Bonazan Turvey recently relocated from his home base in Howick to put in some serious work in Jonkershoek for a few months. This has moved Jonkers from Level Kief to Level Epic, with enough sweetly bermed single-track and gnarly hoicks to keep even the most hard core trail freak smiling.
From the Gate
From the gate, follow the gravel road for 400 m until you see a building on your left hand side, turn left toward this and almost immediately you will see the Lower Canary trail on the right. This is the start of your climb, but fortunately it is a rather fun ascent starting on smooth single-track before passing through a few rock garden sections. Pedal higher and higher, crossing two jeep-tracks on the way; the third jeep-track signals the top.
Turn right here and continue on the gravel road, fork right at 7.5km and continue around. Hang a left at 8.3km and ride till you can go no further, and turn around. After 400 m, take the fork to the right and keep straight.
Keep right at the junction you will find at 11 km and continue the gentle ascent along the contour path. At 17.5 km, turn left onto the main jeep-track and continue until almost exactly 20 km, where you’ll find yourself back at the top of the Canary trails.
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