Trail Closure Update: 8 October 2024

Trails are open with cautions below still applying.

Previous Updates (02 August 2024)

Over the pas few weeks, the Winelands area has experienced significant rainfall, leading to considerable disruption and flooding. The region was hit by multiple cold fronts, resulting in heavy downpours and strong winds. On several occasions, severe weather warnings were issued, including Level 4 and Level 8 warnings for disruptive rain. The heavy rains led to rising water levels, road closures, and calls for disaster management interventions across the Western Cape.

Flooding has been particularly problematic, with areas like Franschhoek Pass experiencing road closures due to storm damage.

The rainfall has been significantly higher compared to historical averages for July:

LocationRecent (July 2024)Historical Average
Paarl145 mm85 mm
Wellington138 mm80 mm
Elgin160 mm100 mm
Franschhoek152 mm95 mm
Stellenbosch130 mm75 mm
Somerset West128 mm70 mm
Bottelary Hills Conservancy135 mm78 mm
Rainfall Across Key Areas in the Winelands

The region has experienced about 50% to 100% more rainfall than usual for the month of July. This increased rainfall has led to significant flooding and challenges for local infrastructure and agriculture, particularly affecting vineyards and roads across the Winelands area​. Trails, needless to say, have not been spared and the decision of the various networks to close their trail networks is therefore expected.

NETWORKS STATUS (AT 2/8/24)

Wine Lands North
Wellington Trails is open.

Paarl Trails, Banhoek Conservancy and Franschhoek is open. Take note of the cautions that apply.

Franschhoek (By Eldorette)

Franschhoek is OK, but there is significant damage on Seesaw. In some sections, you need to dismount and walk, which can be dangerous as the path is washed away at the edge of the dam.

Snake Alley is open, though you might get wet feet when crossing the river!

Matoppie Mast is beautiful and has been tarred in the meantime. Matoppie Contour is also in good condition and definitely rideable.

Elgin Trails (Update by Pieter Silberbauer)
Oak Valley is closed for the next week (at least). Lots of bridge damage on the farm – support with building materials will be greatly appreciated by the team. Reach out [email protected] for more details or to offer help.

“Grabouw Forest side we have manged to repair some of the trails. With the Table Mountain sandstone, the trails remain very ride-able even straight after the rains. We are asking cyclists to proceed with caution if they are desperate to be out there. The jeep tracks are totally shot, so stick to the single tracks”.

“We are busy trying to save the Trail’s End Crossing bridge at the moment. The one foundation got knocked out but the rest is still holding. So, if anyone is wanting to ride around the Eikenhof Dam in the next few days, there is one swim section!”

Wine Lands South (by Murray Williams)

Dear Members, Neighbours and Visitors,

After the vicious recent storms and floods, please be advised:
Extensive efforts have been made to assess as many trails as possible.
Certain trails may have been damaged, and not yet repaired. Equally, some damage may not yet be fully visible – such as unstable ground, sinkholes, etc., which may still subside.
Therefore: Serious CAUTION must please be exercised, with no assumptions on what lies around the next corner …
Furthermore: We still have more rain coming this weekend. This could deliver further damage, or make structures such as bridges unstable.

We are able to advise the following specific trail information:

READY TO RIDE TRAILS:
Pink Valley
Avontuur
Ernie Els (excluding Alto exit)
Stellenzicht
Dornier to red dam then detour out
Somerbosch to tower and Waterworks (excluding the bottom along the river)
Faure Drop .

NOT READY TO RIDE TRAILS:
Alto exit from middle bridges from Ernie
Bilton connection – road up to dam very eroded
Kuikenvlei and Game Farm waterlogged
Spier bad sections of waterlogged trails

NOTE: Please, also: Trails which have recently been repaired still need time to settle. So, we don’t want bikes over repaired sections, until they have time to dry out a bit.
Please do RESPECT our trails as much as possible!

Yours Gratefully,
The Team at Wine Lands Cycling Club

MTO/Jonkershoek

MTO Trails Jonkershoek are officially open again as of today. Cape Nature Hiking trails remain closed until further notice.

Bottelary Hills Conservancy

Take note that Mongoose on the green loop will be closed until further notice. The rest of trails are open.

Please keep off this section of the trail and allow it to settle.  If you spot any other problem areas on the trails, please WhatsApp 083 4480810 – remember to add a pin location and photograph is possible.  You can also tag https://www.facebook.com/BottelaryHillsConservancyMTB on FB.

Wine Lands Trails is an initiative between Wine Lands Cycling Club, Paarl Trails, Banhoek Conservancy, Wellington (Wild Boar) Trails, Franschhoek Trails, Elgin Valley Trails, Bottelary Hills Conservancy, MTO and Stellenbosch Trail Fund to consolidate access to these trail networks under one regional permit.

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