Mpumalanga - High & Lowlands, Panorama

CLOSEST TOWN »     Sabie    
DISTANCE »     Various
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GRADING »    
EASY  MODERATE   DIFFICULT   EXTREME

[ OVERVIEW ]

These trails can get extremely slippery and muddy in wet conditions. “Slick” and “semi-slick” tyres are NOT recommended. Ensure that you have spare tubes and a working pump before setting out. Energy drinks and food are essential to keep you strength and stamina levels up.

Most trails are referred to by their colour – not to be confused with their difficulty ratings.

Permits
You need a permit for these trails. Without it you may well be arrested by forestry staff.

Permits and route maps are available from :
Bike Doc – 082 878-5527 (all hours)
Merry Pebbles Resort (013) 764 2266

SELF-GUIDED DAY TRAILS

RED TRAIL
Distance : 13 km
Duration : ¾ to 1½ hours
Difficulty : Red – suitable for intermediate riders

Not long in distance, but makes use of single track along the river (1000m a.s.l.) and then climbs steeply on forest roads to an altitude of 1250m a.s.l. before dropping down on the other side of the ridge into winding, slippery single tracks, over a wooden bridge, a 1.5m drop-off down a steep track to the finish. Time to finish the trail should be between 45 and 90 minutes depending on your fitness levels and how many tumbles you take! Nice early morning or late afternoon trail.

YELLOW TRAIL
Distance : 22 km
Duration : 1½ to 2½ hours
Difficulty : Red – suitable for intermediate riders

A medium length trail, but the nature of the slippery surfaces and extended steep climbs to 1400m a.s.l. makes this fairly difficult, but worth the effort with great views of the valley, Bridal Veil and Elna waterfalls. The 9km downhill to the finish is an adrenaline rush, but be careful or you may go home without teeth! Time taken should be : 1½ to 2½ hours depending on fitness, nerve or lack of brains!

GREEN TRAIL
Distance : 45 km
Duration : 2½ to 4½ hours Difficulty : Red/Black– suitable for intermediate to hardcore riders

This is a fairly long trail, but is not technical in nature, following the river up past the trout farms on good gravel roads and through beautiful oak plantations. A steep climb awaits you for 4 km to reach the Long Tom Pass at Misty Mountain Chalets. After a beer (no more!) you then zoom down the tar at speeds of 75 km/hour to Sabie. This trail should take you between 2½ to 4½ hours depending on fitness and stops made to admire the waterfalls and stunning scenery.

Sabie River Route
Distance : 6 km
Duration : ½ - 1 hour
Difficulty : suitable for kids

Flat, easy, non technical, kiddies route. Very easy route along the Sabie River and back.

Waterfalls Route
Distance : 20 km
Duration : 2-3 hours
Difficulty : suitable for novice riders

Relatively flat, non-technical, family route. This route follows the Sabie River for a short while, takes a short-cut to Bridal Vail Falls, comes back past Ceylon and takes a forestry road to Lone Creek Falls, then along the tar where you take the road to the right to Horse Shoe Falls and then back to Castle Rock.

Tweefontein Route
Distance : 25 km
Duration : 2 - 3 hours
Difficulty : suitable for fit riders
Hilly, non-technical route heads in a northerly direction towards the Tweefontein Plantation. You will cross the Tweefontein tar road and follow the railway track towards Graskop. At 14 km, with about three quarters of the climbing done, you will take a left fork and head to the highest point where you head back to Sabie. this route has quite a few short climbs so a good level of fitness is required.

SELF GUIDED OVER-NIGHT TRAILS

MARITZBOS TRAIL (Blue Trail)
Distance : 25 km
Duration : 1½ to 2½ hours
Difficulty : Red – suitable for intermediate riders

A trail of medium length. The start is very easy along the river as far as Lone Creek Falls (8 km), where the kids can turn back. A short steep climb of 2 km to the top of the falls splits the fit from the unfit and then follows lovely riverine vegetation to the Maritzbos, where lunch can be eaten before a leisurely ride back on an easy gravel road. Or arrange to sleep over before tackling the Black trail to Stables Hut (1900m a.s.l.) and the magic views which await you on top of the world. The route should take 1½ to 2½ hours to complete.

STABLES TRAIL (Black Trail)
Distance : 45 km
Duration : 3 to 5 hours
Difficulty : Black – Hardcore riders only! Anybody not on a mission and not fit will suffer!

For a single day this is a long trail, mainly due to the steep climbs involved from 1000 m a.s.l. to 1900 m a.s.l. and back down again. You can split it by sleeping over at Maritzbos or Stables Hut at a reasonable cost. If the weather is good, views are endless, but the mist can move in in minutes! The 15km downhill is hard on the arms, hands and EXCELLENT brakes are essential. Be warned! This trail should take 3 hours for the fit and 5 – 6 hours for honeymooners.

[ FAST FACTS ]

GRADING: Various - from moderate to extreme

DURATION: Various

CONFIGURATION : Various

START POINT: Various

TERRAIN: Various

MAP:

MORE INFORMATION:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

FACILITIES:

BEWARE OF: These trails can get extremely slippery and muddy in wet conditions.