Cape Town Hiking Trails
Silvermine Nature Reserve offers a variety of wonderful hiking trails without the steep climbing that is often required on Table Mountain trails. One of my favourite routes is in Silvermine North. It is a circular trail that includes a variety of terrain and views.
Silvermine North is on the left of Ou Kaapse Weg if you are heading towards Cape Town. Enter the reserve (R25 entry fee if you don’t have a wild card) and park immediately on your left . You then head out of the car park down the trail away from the entrance gate.
The first section of the hike follows the river trail. This is wonderful shady path that follows the Silvermine River to the resevoir. The path is well maintained with a boardwalk in places. Slighty up hill you hardly break into a sweat so can just relax and enjoy the walk.
The shady boardwalk in Silvermine Nature Reserve
After 40 minutes the path joins with the jeep track that leads to Noordhoek Peak. Turn left and pass the reservoir to continue up the jeep track. After about 5 minutes take a small path to the right. It is the first clear path leading off the road.
By the Silvermine reservoir
The path you are on now cuts across the veld to rejoin the jeep track on the otherside of Noordhoek Peak. At its highest point on this path you will be at 680m, and at a wonderful lookout area where you can see both Noordhoek and Fishoek, as well as the Constantiaberg and Table Mountain. It should take you about 40 mins to reach this point from where you left the jeep track. You climb about 200m in this section. The steepest part of todays hike.
The views of Noordhoek beach from the path
A little further along the trail you come to a wonderfully sheltered tea spot. Reminicent of Tranquility Cracks with some tough and hardy trees that have managed to survive there.
A rocky outcrop offers a good place for a tea break
Shortly after leaving here, you rejoin the jeep track. Turn right and head down the road. It winds steeply downwards for about half an hour before a junction. Take the right hand fork and you will be lead back to the reservoir. Once at the reservoir retrace your steps back down the river walk and back to your car.
Contact Ridgway Ramblers for more information on this trail and other hikes in Cape Town
