Valley of the Gods Hiking Trail

This walk is along one of the most pop­u­lar routes on the moun­tain and you get to enjoy great views along the way!  You start the walk from Rontree Estate which is above Camps Bay.  Make your way to Theresa Avenue and loc­ate the con­crete path that starts at the Table Mountain Nature Reserve sign ...

After a ten minute walk along the path you should come to a fork and you need to keep right and head for the bluegum trees ahead of you (this is also the Pipe Track).  When you reach the Pipe Track look out for a metal sign­post that will point you towards Kasteelspoort.  The walk from the sign­post to Kasteelspoort should take between 75 and 90 minutes depend­ing on your level of fitness.

The path will now become steeper and you will move diag­on­ally across the slope before lev­el­ling off for approx­im­ately 100 metres.  After the level bit is a sharp incline and then another steep climb into Kasteelspoort.  You will know you’ve reached the top when you find a sign­post show­ing you ways to either Maclears Beacon and Skeleton Gorge or Spring.  You need to choose the way to Spring and head for the gap in the moun­tains, keep­ing left at the fork.  You should enter the Valley of the Gods about five minutes later.  You will see another metal sign show­ing the way to Platteklip Gorge and you can now decide whether you would like to start the return jour­ney or altern­at­ively you can carry on through the Valley of Isolation and Ark Valley.  If you decide to carry on through the Valley of Isolation and Ark Valley, you will return to your cur­rent spot and the onward jour­ney to your car will be a min­imum of 75 minutes.

If you decide to head back to your car you need to take the Diagonal Route back to the Pipe Track.  The path des­cends towards the Barrier Ravine, then across Jubilee Ravine before con­tinu­ing into Porcupine Ravine.  Follow the path down and around Porcupine Buttress.  Turn right after the rocky bit and carry on along the zig zag path towards the Pipe Track.  When you hit the Pipe Track turn left and make your way towards the blue gum trees.  You can take a short cut at the black and yel­low pole and make your way to the gravel road.  Turn left and carry on along the con­crete road.

If you decide to carry on to the Valley of Isolation (this should be another 60 minutes max), leave the Platteklip sign (you have to back­track a few metres) and fol­low the path up the val­ley to the lip between the Valley of the Gods and the Valley of Isolation.  The Valley of Isolation has not only beau­ti­ful fyn­bos but also a grotto offer­ing clean, fresh water to thirsty hikers!

After the grotto carry on along the path halfway up the val­ley (before it swings to the North) and then fol­low the path as is drops into Ark Valley.  An indis­tinct path veers to the left through reeds and grey rocks (look out for the rocks).

On the ridge above these rocks is a path head­ing towards the sea which you need to fol­low for approx­im­ately three minutes to a clear path that moves to the left and back into the Valley of the Gods.  The path brings you back to the Platteklip sign and you can then make your way back to your car.

And always ...
Make sure you fol­low the moun­tain rules and take enough water with you.  Sun block and a hat are essen­tial in the sum­mer and a light, water­proof jacket should always be car­ried.  Try to walk in a group of no less than four people and a fully charged cell phone is always handy!

Useful Links:
Things to Do in Cape Town
Cape Town Hiking Trails
Western Cape Hiking Trails
Cape Town Hotels