With the mountain bike industry growing at a phenomenal rate, there are trails and parks popping up right across Pretoria like never before! In their first Gauteng based contribution for Full Sus, Armand du Toit and Jaco Ferreira take a look at a few new and existing trails in and around Pretoria.
Voortrekker Monument
Recently more MTB and trail running friendly, the Voortrekker Monument is one of the new XCO MTB hot spots in Pretoria. With enough elevation to challenge even the strongest riders the Voortrekker Monument distinguishes itself from the rest of the parks in Pretoria. Not only does the VM challenges one’s climbing ability but also your technical skills as this is the park where all the XCO Provincial Cup races are taking place for 2015. Well-marked rocky routes with some shady singletrack sections, jeep tracks and some tar/concrete pathways, this park also contains a variety of game and ample safe and secure parking.
Sus the Voortrekker Monument Trails
Entry Fee: R35 per person per day
Hours: 06:00 – 17:00 (7 days a week)
Distances: 2 – 10km, so you have to loop to get distance.
Technicality: 4.5/5 – this is one of the rockiest and most technical parks in PTA. It’ll challenge even the best riders.
Location: Voortrekker Monument Heritage Site, Eeufees Road, Groenkloof, Pretoria
Contact: (012) 326 6770 / 325 7885 / 325 0477
Website: www.vtm.org.za
Groenkloof
One of the oldest and most popular mountain bike parks in Pretoria. For beginners to pro-athletes Groenkloof Nature reserve has some amazing trails in store. With safe and secure parking and trails, this park is certainly one where you can enjoy all year round training. Well marked MTB routes, hiking and trail running routes makes this park suitable for various outdoor sports enthusiasts. Boasting a variety of trails that range from tar surfaces, to concrete and some very exciting rocky, rooty and smooth singletracks, you’ll find Groenkloof Nature Reserve as one of the most suitable parks for the whole family.
There are special trails for the youngsters as well as adequate ablution facilities, braai and picnic facilities. As it’s a nature reserve you can be sure that you’ll see some wildlife too.
Sus the Groenkloof MTB Trails
Entry Fee: R35 per person per day
Hours: Summer (September to April) 05h30 – 19h00 and Winter (May to August) 07h00 – 18h00.
Distances: 5km to 14km or even longer. You have the whole reserve to ride!
Technicality: 3.5/5 – very technical and rocky sections on some routes but they also offer various less technical secondary trails, and lots of jeep tracks and tar roads.
Location: Off Christina de Wit Road, Fountains Valley, Pretoria
Contact: (012) 440 8316 / (012) 341 0591
Wolwespruit
Situated in the valleys of Erasmusrand, the newly developed Wolwespruit also boasts amazing shady singletracks, challenging climbs and fun technical sections! With a great variety of scenery, safe and secure well-marked trails, this is the park that will not only challenge your technical handling but also give you a great view to look forward to once you’re at the top.
Wolwespruit consists of a well balanced variety of single and jeep tracks. With some exciting forestry singletracks, wooden bridges, rocky decents towards the valley and some amazing switchback climbing towards the top, Wolwespruit is an amazing destination for all levels of mountain bikers.
There are three different route options to choose from: green, blue and black, with black the most challenging and longest route. The blue route offers some technical sections and a variety of climbs but will not leave you begging for a break while the green route introduces you to what Wolwespruit has to offer and will take you through the most beautiful areas of the blue and black routes.
Sus the Wolwespruit MTB Routes
Entry Fee: R 30 per person per day
Hours: Daily hours vary so visit the website for all the information.
Distances: Loops from 1.5km (Black) to 7.9km (Green)
Technicality: 3 to 4/5 – depending on the routes chosen.
Location: 501 Jochemus Street, Cul se dac, Erasmuskloof, Pretoria
Contact: (012) 661 1661 / (081) 316 7720
Website: www.wolwespruit.co.za
X-Trax
Tough? Yes! Fast? You bet! Fun? Of course!
It’s the ultimate park for challenging your MTB skills. Only 15 minutes from Moreletapark on the Garsfontein road you’ll find this astonishing hand built mountain bike park with basically all the technical obstacles you can think of in one hectare. Easier, less technical tracks are provided for children, which are frequently used for kids’ parties and events. With well-marked routes, A, B and C lines, dirt jumps, berms, suspended bridges, drop-offs and gaps in suspended bridges, see-saw bridges and quick and fast ascents and descents this park is guaranteed to make you “play yourself fit”. Braai and seating facilities are located in the centre of all the action so you don’t miss a thing.
Sus the X-Trax MTB Routes
Entry Fee: R20 per rider per day or R10 for spectators.
Hours: Operating hours are based on bookings
Distances: Various loops up to 2km long
Technicality: 3 to 5/5 – depending on the features you attempt
Location: Plot 81, Bashewa, Pretoria
Contact: 072 225 8557 / 081 242 9797 / 081 375 1941/ x-traxmtb@gmail.com
Website: www.x-trax.co.za
Rosemary Hill
Situated in the far east of Pretoria, Rosemary Hill boasts some of the most family friendly and safe mountain bike and trail running trails around. Awarded as the Big MTB Year Trail Winner for 2014 this venue is suitable for mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers of all levels of skill and fitness. The trails offer great flowing singletracks with exciting jumps, ample jeep tracks, drop-offs and various obstacles taking you through old ruins, rosemary fields and beautiful casuarina and bluegum woods, encircling some of the farm dams. For the less technical riders there are alternative routes to accommodate everyone’s level of riding. Continuous modifications and newly developed trails ensures for a fresh challenge nearly every time you visit. Adding to the inviting atmosphere is the restaurant, friendly staff and the kids play area with karee-wood climbing frames, undercover sand pits and a jungle gym.
Sus the Rosemary Hill MTB Routes
Entry Fee: R30 per adult per day and R15 for children
Hours: 06:00 to 18:00 7 days a week
Distances: 6km, 10km and 27km options
Technicality: 3/5 – if you’re looking for more of a challenge just go faster.
Location: 257 Mooiplaats, N4 East Exit 18, Pretoria
Contact: (012) 8020052 / info@rosemaryhill.co.za
Website: www.rosemaryhill.co.za
Buffelsdrift
Located only 15km north of Pretoria, on the western boundaries of the Dinokeng area, between Roodeplaat and the N1 highway the newly developed Buffelsdrift mountain bike park has grown in popularity within months after its official opening. As part of the Buffelsdrift Nature Conservancy this mountain bike park boasts some amazing fast and flowing singletracks, rocky climbs and descents, ample jeep tracks, berms, jumps, great hand-build features and magnificent wildlife such as the kudu, zebra, impala and the bush pig.
Sus the Buffelsdrift MTB Routes
Entry Fee: R30 per day, or R250 for annual subscription per person. Please bring cash as there are no card facilities.
Hours: Annual Ticket Holders: 24hrs, 7 days a week. Day visitors purchase passes before 12:00, routes open between 07:00 and 18:00
Distances: 7km, 16km, 25km and 38km
Technicality: 3/5 – lots of jeep tracks and well-built routes the technicality is dependent on your speed and the routes you choose.
Location: Plot 52, Buffelsdrift AH, 0130, Pretoria
Contact: 082 856 9755 / info@buffelsdriftmtb.co.za
Website: www.buffelsdriftmtb.co.za
Big Red Barn
Located to the south of Pretoria, 10 minutes from Irene and just 15 minutes from Centurion, the Big Red Barn is a central destination for mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers between Johannesburg and Pretoria. With 27km of scenic trails, exciting wooden bridges, jumps, fast berms, singletracks and jeep tracks flowing through the shady gum tree forest, over African grasslands and farm fields next to the Kaalspruit River, the Big Red Barn is guaranteed to offer you an exciting day out in the saddle. Also with an inviting atmosphere, great hospitality and facilities for the children to enjoy a day out, this is a venue for the whole family.
Sus the Big Red Barn MTB Routes
Entry Fee: Adults R45, children under 12 R25 and pensioners or students R35 per day.
Hours: Open 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset.
Distances: 27km of scenic tracks with detour routes for short-cuts
Technicality: 3/5 – most of the routes are fast and smooth, but there are a few black diamond sections.
Location: 7 Nelson Rd, Sunlawns AH, Olifantsfontein
Contact: 0726177667 / 0783436939.
Website: www.thebigredbarn.co.za
Bios
Armand du Toit is a former junior XCO African Continental champion, still loves XCO racing, and offers MTB skills and maintenance courses plus altitude training camps to the mountain bikers of Gauteng. Somehow he manages to fit in a day job as a Geographical Information Systems specialist. Follow him on Twitter @Armand_duToit.
Jaco Ferreira is a two time ABSA Cape Epic finisher and a life optimisation specialist, which basically means he gives you the tools to help you reach your goals. If you’re in need of a little inspiration and optimisation (who isn’t from time to time) follow him on Twitter @jacoferreira.
