The Union Ravine hike up Table Mountain
Discover the magic of Table Mountain on a personally guided hike with Ridgway Ramblers.
Union Ravine is the ravine on the Western (city) side of Table mountain between Platteklip Gorge and Yellowstone Gulley. The path although clear at the bottom peters out fairly quickly so you need to follow cairns for much of the way. The route is fairly obvious but there are quite a few small paths and gaps between the cairns where you can lose the way especially if the clouds move in. Otherwise it is a fairly simple route with little in the way of scrambling.
To get there park at the bottom of Platteklip gorge and start up the Platteklip Gorge trail. When you get to the contour path turn right and head along the path for about 20 minutes until you reach the Union Cave. This is a smaller version of the Woodstock cave, but is really little more than an overhang. During the winter it can be pretty wet following the path accross the cave.
The contour path passes right across the front of Union Cave
The path to Union Ravine leads straight off the contour path as you get to this cave. It is steep and rocky initially but very clear.
The path leading off the contour path
Once the path peters out you need to keep a sharp eye out for small rocky cairns leading you up the gorge. Be carefull not to follow the route that begins to lead you more to the right and into Yellowstone gulley as this leads into the right arrow face traverse across the face of the mountain.
For most of the route you follow rocky cairns on a vague path
Your route continues up the gorge and over the top of Platteklip buttress. You then join with the Platteklip Gorge path about 20 minutes from the top.
Looking down Union Ravine from Platteklip Buttress
