The Kloof Corner hike starts on Tafelberg Road. Park at the second parking lot on your left, after the first hairpin bend, and cross the road to the Kloof Nek Water Treatment Plant, where a sign marks the start of the trail. The route is about 1.5 km, rated easy to moderate, and takes 20 to 40 minutes each way, a lot of it up stone and log stairs. From the top you look out over the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay, Lion’s Head and the City Bowl, and it’s one of the Mother City’s best spots for sunrise and sunset.
- Time
- 20 – 40 minutes each way (depending on your fitness level)
- Difficulty
- Easy – Moderate
- Distance
- +/- 1.5 km
- Terrain
- Wide, stable path with a few steep sections and about 215 stone and log stairs
- Fitness
- Low – Moderate
- Start point
- Tafelberg Road, at the Kloof Nek Water Treatment Plant (look for the trail sign)
- End point
- Kloof Corner
- Parking
- Second parking lot on your left on Tafelberg Road, after the first hairpin bend
- Child-friendly
- Yes
- Pet-friendly
- Yes, although the Table Mountain National Park is under the jurisdiction of SANParks, which requires that dog-walkers have a Level 1 My Activity Permit
Where the Kloof Corner hike starts
Tafelberg Road marks the starting point of the popular Kloof Corner hike. To get there, go up Tafelberg Road and park at the second parking lot on your left (after the first hairpin bend). Cross the road to the Kloof Nek Water Treatment Plant where you will find a sign marking the start of the trail.
Hike overview
Kloof Corner is one of Cape Town’s most popular hiking trails for locals and tourists alike. Kloof Corner is known as one of the Table Mountain chain’s easier hikes. While it may be a fairly short trail, especially in comparison to other Table Mountain hiking routes, it does require some effort.
Besides a few steep sections, the Kloof Corner hiking trail boasts a wide and stable path. This makes it a great choice for kids, beginners and hikers of all ages, fitness, and experience levels.
Route description
The path up Kloof Corner starts off with a gradual incline. After a fairly straight section you will begin to zig-zag your way up the side of Table Mountain – This is where the real climb begins. After about 20 – 40 minutes of climbing what seems like an endless amount of stone and log stairs up the mountainside (approximately 215 stairs if you’re counting) you will reach the Camps Bay end of the Contour Path. Follow the contour path to the left until you find yourself right under the cable car station or continue as far along the contour path as you like – it’s completely up to you.
Once you reach the top, turn right, and make your way around the corner – Welcome to Kloof Corner! Boasting spectacular views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range, Camps Bay, Lion’s Head, the City Bowl, and Atlantic Ocean, it isn’t hard to understand why Kloof Corner is regarded as one of Cape Town’s most beautiful and sought-after hiking trails. It is known to get quite windy up there so make sure you choose a good, sheltered spot. This way you can sit back, relax, and enjoy every moment and stunning scenic sight.
Besides being one of Cape Town’s top hiking trails to enjoy anytime of the day, Kloof Corner is regarded as one of the Mother City’s best sunrise and sunset spots. Making a sunrise or sunset hike up Kloof Corner well worth your while.
Tips for hiking Kloof Corner
- Even though Kloof Corner is a quick and easy hike, you still need to be fully prepared to make it a safe and enjoyable experience. This includes wearing good hiking shoes and attire and taking plenty of water, sunblock, a hat, and something warm along. Table Mountain is notorious for its unpredictable weather – even if it looks like a sunny day, take that jacket with you anyway!
- Besides being one of Cape Town’s most popular hiking trails, Kloof Corner is also one of the Mother City’s best sunrise and sunset spots. This makes going on a sunrise or sunset hike up Kloof Corner a bucket-list worthy experience
- If you’re going on a sunrise or sunset hike up Kloof Corner, make sure you take a torch or headlamp with you. Trying to navigate a trail in the dark can be dangerous.
Just down the road at Kloof Nek, the Pipe Track is a mostly flat walk along the Camps Bay side of the mountain, and the Lion’s Head Loop is an easy, mostly flat walk around the base of Lion’s Head. If you’re ready for a summit, our guide to hiking Table Mountain covers the routes up, and there are more trails in the hiking section.
Frequently Asked Questions
On Tafelberg Road. Drive up Tafelberg Road and park at the second parking lot on your left, after the first hairpin bend. Then cross the road to the Kloof Nek Water Treatment Plant, where a sign marks the start of the trail.
Plan on 20 to 40 minutes each way, depending on your fitness. The route is about 1.5 km. After a gradual start you zig-zag up roughly 215 stone and log stairs to the Camps Bay end of the Contour Path, then turn right and walk around the corner to Kloof Corner.
Yes, it’s one of the Mother City’s best sunrise and sunset spots, with views of the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay, Lion’s Head, the City Bowl and the Atlantic Ocean. It can get windy at the top, so find a sheltered spot, and take a torch or headlamp for the walk down, because the trail is dangerous to navigate in the dark.
Yes. It’s rated easy to moderate, and apart from a few steep sections the path is wide and stable, so it suits kids, beginners and hikers of any fitness level. It’s short but it still takes some effort, so pack good shoes, water, sunblock, a hat and a warm layer.
Yes. The trail is in Table Mountain National Park, which falls under SANParks, and dog-walkers need a Level 1 My Activity Permit.
Comments