HIKING TRAILS
Explore the Rusty Gate Hiking Trails
You can explore an interactive view of our hiking trails by clicking on the INTERACTIVE GOOGLE MAPS button below.
HIKING TRAILS INFORMATION
Rock Pools Trail
Distance: 1.4 km
Elevation: 90 m
Grading: Intermediate
Our shortest trail with a downhill hike to the Upper Rock Pools and and uphill return on the same route. Pack a picnic basket and bathing suit for a relaxing rest and swim at the rock pools.
Twin Rivers Trail
Distance: 1.7 km
Elevation: 47 m
Grading: Easy
Suitable for young and old this easy trail provides for a relaxing hike around the Recreation Dam with a short climb along the cascading water of the dam’s main feeder stream. Return home with a comfortable downhill hike through the old nursery orchards.
Vantage Point Trail
Distance: 2.7 km
Elevation: 108 m
Grading: Easy
Arguably our most popular trail and suitable for young and old. An easy start past the Recreation dam followed by intermediate climbing through protea forest to the Vantage Point lookout with 360 degree view of Rusty Gate and Helderstroom Valley. Return home with a comfortable downhill hike.
Waterfall Trail
Distance: 4.6 km
Elevation: 200 m
Grading: Intermediate
The best all inclusive hiking experience at Rusty Gate. Hiking out to the waterfall follows part of Vantage Point trail through protea forest before veering of in the direction of Silverstream Dam and then a steep downhill to the waterfall. The return hike starts with steep climb out of the waterfall gorge to the Finger Rock. From there return home via Vantage Point lookout with magnificant view over the Helderstroom Valley and Silverstream Dam. Pack your bathing suit and picnic snacks and relax at the waterfall!
Gorge Trail
Distance: 4.3 km
Elevation: 289 m
Grading: Difficult
Our most challenging trail starting with a downhill hike through a narrow gorge along cascading water and rock pools. From the bottom of the gorge a steep meandering climb to the top of Vantage Point opens up to spectacular views of the Riviersonderend valley and Silverstream Dam in the nature reserve. From there it is an easy downhill hike back home past the Recreation Dam.
Crest Trail
Distance: 6 km
Elevation: 323 m
Grading: Intermediate
Our longest trail with an easy start following the Twin Rivers trail around the Recreation dam. Then an uphill hike to the crest of Rusty Gate Pass for a magnificant vista of Overberg from the Lookout Point. Return home downhill through protea forest and old nursery orchards.
TRAIL RUNNING INFORMATION
The hiking trails are ideally suited for trail running, and we have created three combination routes of 6km, 9km and 12km with special signage specifically for the trail runners to quickly and easily identify their routes when approaching signposts.
Gorge-Waterfall Route
Distance: 6.0 km
Elevation: 370 m
Grading: Intermediate
The shortest of our trail running routes combines the Gorge and Waterfall trails. In spite of being the shortest of the trail running routes, the grading is based on technical difficulty for steep downhill and uphill running on the Gorge trail section.
Waterfall-Crest Route
Distance: 9.0 km
Elevation: 490 m
Grading: Intermediate
This intermediate trail running route includes the Waterfall and Crest trails. Although longer than the Gorge-Waterfall route, this route has an intermediate grading as the technical difficulty is not as challenging as the other two routes.
Gorge-Waterfall-Crest Route
Distance: 12.0 km
Elevation: 700 m
Grading: Difficult
The longest of our trail running routes includes the Gorge, Waterfall and Crest hiking trails. The grading of this route is based on the technical running sections of the Gorge trail and overall distance with longer continuous uphill and downhill sections.
SAFE HIKING PRACTICES
Hikers’ Safety Considerations, Information and Protocol
Cape Nature compiled and released “There & Back Safely” a couple of years ago. This information guide for hikers includes valuable and useful information on hiking protocol, etiquette, technique, personal safety, responsibilities and emergency procedures.
We highly recommend that guests intending to explore our trails familiarise themselves with the content of this guide. Some important (and slightly modified) outtakes from the “There and Back Safely” guide that are applicable to all hikers at Rusty Gate include:
Hiker Protocol
- Unless specifically indicated otherwise, it is illegal to collect or disturb plants, animals, rocks or cultural artifacts.
- Destruction or removal of plants, animals, and historical, prehistoric or geological sites are prohibited.
- Wildflowers and other natural objects are beautiful indeed. Leave them intact for others to enjoy.
- Twigs, branches, bark or dead wood may not be gathered for firewood.
- Always stay on designated trails to reduce damage to soil and plants and protect fragile vegetation, in particular vegetation marked as in process of rehabilitation.
- Fynbos ecosystems can be fragile and easily damaged, and one hiker’s boot-print can destroy plant life forever. Therefore, avoid putting your hands and feet anywhere you cannot see.
- Trailblazing is strictly forbidden.
- It is illegal to set up cooking devices or start fires unless done so in designated areas.
- Do not approach, disturb, feed, chase or harass wildlife. Enticing and feeding wildlife is unlawful.
- Put your food and garbage away. Baboons and other animals may be attracted to your food.
- Do not litter. Littering harms wildlife and spoils the view! Use available recycling facilities.
Hiker Etiquette
- Learn to share the trails with all other users.
- For all trail users, downhill yields to uphill.
- Use common sense and courtesy while on the trails.
- Announce your intentions and slow your pace when passing someone on the trails.
- Remember the 3 C’s: Courtesy, Communication and Common Sense.
Click on the “THERE AND BACK SAFELY” button and the end of this section to download the guide.