Gravel routes to ride this festive season

If you're spending this festive season anywhere along the beautiful coast of South Africa, we have some epic gravel routes for you to check out that you'll no doubt love! In the Summer Edition of Gravel Bike Magazine, we describe a bunch of different routes from all over SA that travel along beautiful backroads and see parts of our country that very few see. Gravel Bike Mag Summer Edition is on shelves now. Click here to find a stockist near you, or alternatively click here to download and read online.

George

The Garden Route city at the foot of the Outeniquas makes a great starting point for some scenic gravel rides - through forested river gorges to Wilderness and Knysna, along rolling farm roads towards Mossel Bay, and over the mountains into the Klein Karoo.

By Bjorn Uys

For me, the Garden Route is cycling heaven! From endless kilometres of

road next to the Indian Ocean to forest trails and challenging climbs over gravel passes into the interior, there's such diverse terrain to explore. Add plenty of good coffee spots, a mild climate and breathtaking views and you've got everything a cyclist wants. I think what makes the area particularly appealing to gravel riders is the network of scenic back roads through the forests, and over the Outeniquas into the expanse of the Klein Karoo, where there are even more unpaved district roads to keep you grinding for miles. These back roads are generally safe, well-maintained and fairly quiet.

Favourite Rides

Seven Passes Road

This 80km stretch between George and Knysna is a gravel-biking gem. The historic route links the two towns via seven scenic mountain passes, including the famous Homtini and Karatara passes. The route is a mix of tar, smooth gravel and some rougher corrugated sections. It twists and curves down and up a number of river gorges, passes through lovely indigenous forests, and offers some stunning views. Because of extensive flood damage in the area, it's currently closed to road traffic, and is only expected to open in late 2026. An out-and-back ride to Knysna will be a good 160km ride, with some 2500m of elevation gain. If that sounds like too much, don't stress. There are a number of turn-offs to make the ride shorter, and each turn-off offers its own hidden gems and breathtaking views.

The Wilderness Loop

This offers 45km of gravel travel starting in George and taking in the first two passes - Kaaimansgat and Silver River - on the Seven Passes Road. At the end of the Silver River Pass there's The Tea Junxion at Wilderness Heights. Here you can turn right onto White's Road and head down towards Wilderness. You'll pass a spaza shop on your left that is great for a cool drink and a snack. White's offers the best stretch of gravel! If you've got time, and the legs, make a detour to visit the viewpoint over the Map of Africa, which is where the Kaaimans River has carved out a gorge in the shape of Africa. It's a spectacular scene of mountains and forests, and is well sign-posted from Wilderness Heights. Have a coffee at The Green Shed or The Commonage in Wilderness, and from there you can whizz back to George (it's about 10km).

The Great Brak Loop

Start your ride at the Cornerstone Lifestyle Centre in George, and turn right off the R404 towards Redberry Farm. Head past its strawberry fields and you'll be on gravel back roads for the next 60km as you ride west towards Mossel Bay. There are lots of farm roads to choose between, so do a bit of planning and take your pick. I love to take the road past Bottlierskop, which features on the last stretch of the Attakwas Extreme and can give you some wildlife sightings. The gravel can get crunchy in certain parts so take note of that. From there you can drop down into Great Brak, where I'd recommend Twin Trees or Daily Bread for a coffee. Head back to George along the R102, or plot a route along some more gravel back roads.

Into the Klein Karoo

One of the best gravel challenges from George has to be the Montagu Pass - 17km of scenic, narrow gravel road winding over the Outeniqua Mountains to the little village of Herold. It's not an easy ride, but it's a great way to grind your way into the Klein Karoo. Unfortunately the pass has been badly damaged by floods; repair work is due to start later this year and it should reopen in 2026. Until then it's closed to all traffic, so you'll need to take the tarred Outeniqua Passover the mountains if you want to enjoy the endless gravel opportunities on the other side.

From Herold, the Montagu Pass crosses the R62 and segues into the stunning Paardepoort Road, a lovely stretch of off-the-beaten-track gravel that follows the Doring River. Said to be the work of Thomas Bain, it was built in the 1800s and is propped up by some substantial retaining walls. The mostly smooth gravel will give you a 120km out-and-back ride to Oudtshoorn, where you can take a break and get some food and drink. Take plenty of fluids with you on the ride as you'll not find a pitstop along the way

Bike Talk

I ride the Trek Checkpoint SL5, with a 1x12 SRAM Apex Groupset, no suspension and 50mm Vittoria Terreno tyres.

Events

The new 6-day Garden Route Giro, scheduled for April 2026, will start in Mossel Bay and finish in Wilderness; Seven Passes MTB in January follows the Seven Passes Road; the Prince George 100 Miler in October takes you through the Klein Karoo.

Greyton

The picturesque Overberg hamlet nestled in the Riviersonderend Mountains offers the perfect starting point for some rolling loops along backcountry gravel roads that follow the Sonderend River and weave through wheat and canola fields.

By Antony Ribot

The Greyton area delivers rolling Overberg gravel roads with little traffic and the potential for lots of adventure. I find the rolling small hills keep the cycling intensity varied as well as making for some lovely views whatever the season. There's such a range of rides and at Greyton MTB-Gravel we're always exploring new gravel roads to create new loops.

Favourite rides

The Oaks Loop

This is a 30km introduction to gravel riding around Greyton. It's an easy and relaxing gravel loop through undulating landscapes and orchards with 300m total ascent spread out between a sweet selection of small rolling hills with lots of potential for great photos. A suggestion is to take the clockwise loop as you get the rougher gravel over with at the start of the ride. If you're looking for bragging rights, attempt to get onto the leaderboard with a sub-60-minute outing. I've only managed 63 minutes so far, but I hope to crack the hour one day!

Greyton to Riviersonderend and back

Following the route of the infamous Pie Run (a popular former event in the area), this is 71km with 700m of ascent there and back. It offers impressive mountain scenery and lots of rolling hills. It's 95% gravel with 5% on the tarmac. You can follow the R406 to Riviersonderend, and on the way back branch off near Klein Plasie Guest Farm to give you a different route back towards Greyton (you'll join the Oaks Loop for the final stretch back to town).

At the halfway point in Riviersonderend you have lovely Ou Meul Bakery at which to top up your energy reserves (their pies are delicious, but don't eat too many otherwise you'll struggle on your way back to Greyton).

The Jailbreak Loop

This route takes you west of Greyton towards Helderstroom and the Grootvlei Prison. It's about 60km with 450m of climbing on roads with very little traffic, more or less following the path of the Sonderend River. You head out past Genadendal, then turn onto the Middelplaas Road, before branching onto the Helderstroom Road. Once you've passed the prison, hang a left and head back east to rejoin the R406 just south of Genadendal. Legend has it that you can stop at the prison cafe for a bite to eat, but I haven't been brave enough for that short detour yet!

If you're looking for a bit more ascent you can always add on The Rusty Gate extension to the Jailbreak Loop, which takes you to a total distance of 69km and an ascent of around 1100m-if you go up once (one of our local riders, Edwin, uses this as a training climb and has been known to go up Rusty Gate three times in one session).

With Greyton as your start and finish, there are plenty of options for a pre/post-ride coffee, breakfast or snacks-just note that most cafes in Greyton are closed on Tuesdays so it's best to plan a coffee at home on those days. The Greyton MTB-Gravel trail hub is at Pure Cafe, which serves great coffee and had delicious vegetarian food.

The roads around town are generally quiet, but there can be traffic of a different kind when random horses and cows pop up on the roads! Farmers also have a number of points where they move their cows across the roads at specific times of the day. That's all part of the enjoyment of the Overberg gravel roads though.

Bike talk

I ride a Vielo V+1 gravel bike with 50mm tyres (I run the rear at 25psi and 23psi at the front), no suspension and a SRAM AXS D2 Ix system. The frame is designed from the ground up to make the most of the lx system, and to be stiff and allow for more power efficiency.

Events

Greyton MTB- Gravel organises the annual Canola Roller gravel race in September, when the canola fields are in full yellow splendour. It features 30km, 80km and 130km routes. Profits get split between Greyton's MTB Juniors and trail maintenance.

The appeal of gravel

I used to be more of an amateur endurance road cyclist (and endurance Zwifter) back in the UK. Now that I live in South Africa, I've got access to glorious gravel which just keeps on giving adventure after adventure. We only have one tarred road heading out of Greyton, so road cycling isn't popular. With a gravel bike it's also nice to be able to mix things up and head onto Greyton's MTB trails too, some of which are gravel bike friendly. 60km of flowing singletrack just makes you smile!

Graaf-Reinet

Karoo 'big sky country' around South Africa's fourth oldest town is gravel heaven - diverse terrain, some challenging climbs, and the opportunity to ride through wildlife.

By Julian Robinet

My first experience with Graaff-Reinet was in 2017, and even before I was an avid cyclist, I was captivated by its vastness. It's truly 'big sky country'. It wasn't until 2021 that I began riding here and quickly discovered the area's secret: while Strava might suggest it's an unpopular spot, it is in fact a hidden paradise for gravel bikers.

This area feels purpose-built for gravel bikes. The terrain is neither technical enough to require a mountain bike nor smooth enough for a road bike, creating the perfect challenge for a gravel setup. The diversity is remarkable: you can find everything from steep, rewarding climbs on gravel and quiet tar roads to epic 100km + loops on fast, compacted jeep track.

The landscape also offers a unique training benefit. Starting at a relatively low point of 770m in Graaff-Reinet, many routes climb to altitudes of over 2000m, making the area ideally suited for mild elevation training.

In short, it's a gravel heaven. The appeal is enhanced by the opportunity for game viewing on the flat, non-technical single tracks of the local national park, which are easily manageable on a gravel bike.

What truly sets this area apart, however, is the lack of traffic and non-predator wildlife. Located far from major metropolitan areas, with a national highway bypassing the surrounding routes, you can ride for hours - even 100km or more - without seeing another human. This, combined with the generally good condition of the gravel roads year-round, provides an unmatched sense of freedom and solitude. The landscape feels like it was made just for us.

Favourite rides

The Safari Loop

This is a truly special ride that highlights what makes Graaff-Reinet so unique. It's an easy 25km loop with 300m of elevation gain through the Camdeboo National Park, which virtually surrounds the town. The park has made a great effort to accommodate cyclists with a dedicated permit, allowing you to ride officially with antelope and other wildlife just metres away, and there's been some great development of smaller, gravel-bike-friendly mountain-bike trails too. This route is suitable for any skill of rider.

The Ouberg and the Valley

For a bit more of a challenge, this is a 66km ride with 1500m of elevation. You climb northwest out of town into the Camdeboo National Park, where you tackle the Roodewal Loop on a section of private land known as Ouberg. The private road starts off smooth and fast before becoming a long, rocky and technical climb up to the top of Ouberg. Keep an eye out for giraffes in this area - they are usually docile, but it's still wise to be cautious. Remember, this is private land, so permission is required for access.

At the summit, the route turns back towards Graaff-Reinet. This exposed section can be very fast - and also very windy. You enter the national park again on a jeep track then turn towards the Valley of Desolation viewpoint. It's a challenging climb up a tar road to the top, but the views make it worth the effort. This is the highlight of the ride! From the top back into Graaff-Reinet is a 14km downhill. So technically it's an 80km route but the work is done at the top.

The Road to Desolation

For the big days, which this area is perfectly suited for, my absolute favourite is the Road to Desolation. This is a challenging 180km route with 2800m of elevation, which I curated after two years of exploring the region. It's an incredible test of endurance, offering the sheer endless straights and rewarding climbs the area is known for.

About 3km northeast of Graaff-Reinet, you'll turn right onto a gravel road. The first 40km have a gradual incline, so be prepared for a long climb. You'll go up Erasmuskloof to reach Conical Peak with 1622m elevation at the 41km mark, a great place to stop and refuel. After about 20km of rolling downhill terrain on some loose gravel, you briefly transition to tar as you cross the N9, before tackling a challenging climb up Witnekpas. The reward is a fast 10km descent on some of the country's smoothest gravel, leading you into the charming town of Nieu- Bethesda at 108km. This is an excellent spot to refuel and a perfect place for family and friends to meet you for breakfast before you continue. It's also a good overnight stop if you're looking for a two-day bikepacking adventure.

From Nieu-Bethesda, a short, steep climb out of the valley leads to Riverdene Farm, and a 40km rolling stretch of road. At 154km, you'll turn left onto the tarred R63 towards Graaff-Reinet. This section is exposed, so be prepared for potentially strong winds.

Around the 172km mark, turn right into the national park and follow the road leading to the Valley of Desolation. The road climbs relentlessly to the summit, but the stunning view over Graaff-Reinet below is the perfect reward. From the top, you have an additional 14km descent back into town.

A loop around Compassberg

Another hidden gem is a loop around Compassberg, which is the highest mountain outside of the Drakensberg range in South Africa. This route takes you through the Sneeuberg Nature Conservancy where you'll be treated to a variety of wildlife and great climbs and descents.

The ideal starting and finishing point is the beautiful village of Nieu Bethesda. Do the loop as a day trip, or add it to a multi-day bikepacking trip from Graaff-Reinet with a stopover in Nieu-Bethesda. There are plenty of accommodation options for all budgets.

The ride itself is a thrilling challenge. You'll climb out of Nieu-Bethesda and crest Owl Hill before turning left twice towards Leeukop, which sits at 1846m. The air can get quite thin up there!

From Leeukop, you'll enjoy a fun, gradual descent before turning left again to head back toward Nieu-Bethesda, with the magnificent Compassberg always in sight. The route features a 20km climb to crest Kom Pass, the highest point on the route with 1894m, and the subsequent descent requires you to be careful of exposed rocks.

After one final climb, you'll roll the last 4km downhill back into Nieu-Bethesda. Don't let the distance fool you- this is a demanding ride. The entire route is on gravel, and you'll be riding at a decent elevation for most of the day.

Bike Talk

For this terrain, my bike depends on the ride. I use a Standert Erdgeschoss for bikepacking and general exploring, while my Standert Kettensäge is reserved for racing. When it comes to the setup. I've found that adaptability is key. I highly recommend using 50mm tyres if your frame allows, as the terrain's variability makes a wider tyre crucial for both safety and comfort.

A lx drivetrain is more than sufficient for the area's diverse routes, but I would advise a mullet setup for the best range. The ideal chainring size depends on your riding style: a 46T or 48T is a good choice for racers, while a 40T or 42T paired with a wide-range 10-52T cassette is perfect for weekend warriors who want to tackle the climbs without burning out.

Hydration and nutrition are non-negotiable, especially on longer rides between early October and late March. Temperatures can soar to 40°C, and strong winds and sudden thunderstorms are common. For longer journeys, a minimum of two large water bottles, plus a hydration pack, is a must. You should also carry enough nutrition for at least 4-5 hours to ensure you're self-sufficient out in the remote landscapes.

Events

Community Connect organises the Road to Desolation single-stage gravel race, scheduled for 13 June 2026, where you can choose between the 180km or 66km routes.

Fuelling Options

Within Graaff-Reinet itself, there are plenty of great options for a pre-ride coffee or a post-ride meal. However, once you leave the town limits, you are truly out in the wild. The remote nature of the area is a huge part of its appeal, so you must be self-sufficient and plan accordingly. The most reliable chance for a mid-ride refill is in Nieu Bethesda. Here, you'll find a range of pitstops, from local spaza shops to more formal sit-down restaurants and even a unique brewery.