The coordinates 33.9177° S, 22.8623° E will take you to the Garden Route Trail Park, quite possibly the most complete mountain biking venue in South Africa, if not the world. Quite a claim, yes, but here’s why…
No matter what type of mountain biker you are, you will find your groove at the Garden Route Trail Park. From small kids to big kids and even grown adult kids – it’s a beautifully built and lovingly maintained bicycle play area that will increasingly endear you with every corner you turn.
So it’s a play zone for bikes, made pretty globally famous by these rather extreme fellows.
The Garden Route Trail Park is a place of singletrack solitude, where you can weave your way through ancient indigenous forests, along pristine river banks and through fertile farmlands. The singletrack has a rhythm that lets you know that it was built by mountain bikers. People that value flow, but aren’t afraid to throw in the occasional disruption to bring you out of the zone and into a state of consciousness to negotiate a tight switchback, a log crossing or a bridge.
Although not overly manicured, the trails offer a relatively low puncture risk, which always helps keep you in smile mode.
If you’re in the Garden Route area without your bike, fear not, there are good quality rental bikes available. But if you’d be crazy not to be heading to that region without your bike this summer. Once there, head straight to 33.9177° S, 22.8623° E, where you will find the Garden Route Trail Park, and, mostly likely find a piece of yourself that you really, really like…
HOW TO GET THERE: From Knysna drive 20km towards George on the N2. At the Ruigtevlei/Karatara sign turn right. Cross the railway line and head straight up the road for 18km, following signs to Barrington. At the T-junction with the Seven Passes Road, turn right and you’ll see the parking entrance. The trails start there too. If you’re coming from George, drive towards Knysna on the N2. Go through Sedgefield and after 5km turn left at the Ruigtevlei/Karatara sign. Then follow the directions above.
CONTACT: www.gardenroutetrailpark.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: Garden Route Trail Park
