Table Mountain Cableway down for maintenance 25 July to 28 Aug 2022
What are the Alternatives?
Hike straight up to famous viewpoints. Or explore Table Mountain's varied back-routes.
Please contact me here and I'll personally guide you through the choices, and hopefully hike with you too.
Or keep reading to get the lowdown on various recommended routes.
Forego the mountain's famous full frontal vistas. Rather, hike the Back Table flanks of Table Mountain. The views are just as rewarding - of the Atlantic on one side; then hike over to the other side and look out over the rest of the vast peninsula and False Bay.
However, if the what you want is the famous full on downtown views, and of Lion's Head, and Robben Island beyond, these first two trails listed below will get you to the upper cable station via the north face.
Platteklip Gorge.
The straightforward route to the (currently closed) upper cable station.
With classic city views, and of Table Bay, and Devil's Peak we hike up a steep zigzag trail into the gorge. Once on top view the Twelve Apostles; sometimes Cape Point can be seen.
By far the busiest route, some Platteklip steps are smoother than along other Table Mountain trails. Sandstone usually offers good grip. But this route is so popular that some stones are well worn. As always when hiking, please wear shoes with soles of good strong grip.
Near the top of Platteklip Gorge
Once up, branch right to viewing spots near the upper cable station, or if conditions suit, head the other way along the mountain's famous front face.
Return? There's always a Platteklip descent - quicker than via other main routes.
But with more time, consider going down via the Back Table.
Choose from the several longer more varied alternatives via the western (or Twelve Apostles) flank and the eastern sides into Kirstenbosch, or ease down the long road to Constantia Nek.
Timing: For regular exercisers a basic hike up and back down the gorge is often about 5 hours, including rest time and sightseeing, this of course depending on the group's speed and fitness
If walking a longer trail down via the Back Table, it's at least 6 hours or more.
Alternatively ...
Another trail up the front face of the mounain, a few crags along from Platteklip Gorge:
India Venster
The India Venster ascent, which in turns skirts straight and diagnolly up the front Western Table to the upper cable station area, is more challenging. There are several steep scambles. Hikers should be in good shape and have a head for heights.
Emerging near the top of Platteklip you have the same downward hike options. Not many hikers descend via India. Rather consider a route down via the Back Table.
Or skip the front face altogether:
With the Cableway service suspended, now's the perfect time to hike the Back Table
Routes like Skeleton Gorge, and Kesteelspoort, (pictured below) are quieter trails with more varied flora and are well worth exploring.
Go up one side and come down the other,
Timing? Most routes usually take about 5 to 6.5 hours.
For a shorter Back Table hike try Camel Rock via Constantia Corner, which has the added thrill of some easy scrambles.
Or any of these shorter hikes.
Get Epic
Going up the front face via India or Platteklip and down via the Back Table is a longer, more demanding day's walking, as we would reach roughly 1024m, as opposed to climbing onto the Back Table which is ranges at round 700 - 800 meters.
... Like Lion's Head or Devil' Peak
