Activity

Nature’s Valley Salt River Rugpad loop

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Trail photos

Photo ofNature’s Valley Salt River Rugpad loop Photo ofNature’s Valley Salt River Rugpad loop Photo ofNature’s Valley Salt River Rugpad loop

Author

Chris Eady
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Trail stats

Distance
8.82 mi
Elevation gain
1,660 ft
Technical difficulty
Moderate
Elevation loss
1,660 ft
Max elevation
740 ft
TrailRank 
72 5
Min elevation
21 ft
Trail type
Loop
Moving time
3 hours 52 minutes
Time
6 hours 25 minutes
Coordinates
2548
Uploaded
December 28, 2021
Recorded
December 2021

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  •   5 1 review
3 Claps 4 comments
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near Nature’s Valley, Western Cape (Republic of South Africa)

Viewed 740 times, downloaded 13 times

Trail photos

Photo ofNature’s Valley Salt River Rugpad loop Photo ofNature’s Valley Salt River Rugpad loop Photo ofNature’s Valley Salt River Rugpad loop

Itinerary description

A trail that begins with the salt river trail but then spilts to the Rugpad and loops through the forest before reaching the lookout of the Salt River. Finishing with a scramble over the blue rocks and a walk along the beach. We did this in Reverse to time the tides anf have safe passage over the rocks

Waypoints

PictographPanorama Altitude 267 ft
Photo ofSalt River lookout

Salt River lookout

Turn right before the ascent to get to the railing lookout

PictographPhoto Altitude 353 ft
Photo ofView of the beach through the forest

View of the beach through the forest

Nature's Valley Beach

PictographTunnel Altitude 349 ft
Photo ofForest tunnel

Forest tunnel

The grass track gives way to forest canopy

PictographFlora Altitude 548 ft
Photo ofPurple forest flower

Purple forest flower

Many lying scattered on the forest floor

PictographWaypoint Altitude 728 ft
Photo ofLeft turn on the Rugpad

Left turn on the Rugpad

Turning right would head back to the main tar road into nature's Valley, you could turn right here to go down Kalanderkloof to shorten

PictographFlora Altitude 726 ft
Photo ofFlowers in the tall Fynbos

Flowers in the tall Fynbos

Growing from a single stem out the ground

PictographFlora Altitude 722 ft
Photo ofBlack Bearded Protea

Black Bearded Protea

Protea longifolia

PictographPhoto Altitude 723 ft
Photo ofTsitsikama Range

Tsitsikama Range

Mountain range in the distance

PictographFlora Altitude 726 ft
Photo ofErica Bicolour

Erica Bicolour

Many found all along the trail

PictographRiver Altitude 688 ft
Photo ofSalt River and the Dense forest Photo ofSalt River and the Dense forest

Salt River and the Dense forest

The kloof looking northwest

PictographTree Altitude 200 ft
Photo ofIndegenious Forest Photo ofIndegenious Forest

Indegenious Forest

Tall trees on the descent

PictographInformation point Altitude 85 ft
Photo ofRiver crossing Photo ofRiver crossing

River crossing

The cable to cross the salt river, use the rope

PictographPhoto Altitude 163 ft
Photo ofMushroom Photo ofMushroom

Mushroom

Growing on logs

PictographFauna Altitude 234 ft
Photo ofStink horn Fungus and Shongololo

Stink horn Fungus and Shongololo

PictographWaypoint Altitude 675 ft
Photo ofSignpost

Signpost

The left turn back to the salt river

PictographTree Altitude 679 ft
Photo ofTurn left at the Big Yellowood Photo ofTurn left at the Big Yellowood

Turn left at the Big Yellowood

Trail turns

PictographTree Altitude 472 ft
Photo ofTangled Branches

Tangled Branches

On the descent path

PictographPhoto Altitude 327 ft
Photo ofMushrooms

Mushrooms

Growing on logs

PictographPanorama Altitude 312 ft
Photo ofSalt River viewpoint Photo ofSalt River viewpoint

Salt River viewpoint

The view

PictographRiver Altitude 35 ft
Photo ofSalt River Photo ofSalt River Photo ofSalt River

Salt River

Emerging from the forest to the salt river valley

PictographBeach Altitude 25 ft
Photo ofThe beach at Salt River mouth

The beach at Salt River mouth

Check the tides

PictographBeach Altitude 45 ft
Photo ofMaidens Cove Photo ofMaidens Cove

Maidens Cove

The trail heads down to the beach at Maidens Cove

PictographRisk Altitude 38 ft
Photo ofCrossing the rocks

Crossing the rocks

Take note of the tides

PictographPhoto Altitude 51 ft
Photo ofLast stretch

Last stretch

Clear path along the coast

PictographPhoto Altitude 49 ft
Photo ofPath through

Path through

The lab puppy

Comments  (4)

  • Photo of Maxime Yates
    Maxime Yates Apr 24, 2022

    I have followed this trail  View more

    Amazing walk from natures valley, Beautiful scenery. If doing this trail in summer dont forget to bring a costume and swim in the river

  • Photo of Boland Avonture
    Boland Avonture Dec 12, 2022

    Hi Chris Eady.
    Do I need a permit for this Salt River hike? I phoned SAN parks and Nature Valley rest camp, but they can not answer me.

    Best regards.
    Keep safe.
    Marius, Boland Avonture

  • Photo of Chris Eady
    Chris Eady Dec 12, 2022

    Hi there Marius. From what I remember we didn't find any info on permits and there was no checkpoint requesting one or a checkpoint anywhere along this trail. There were a lot of people on holiday doing the shorter versions of the loop, fisherman dogwalkers and beachgoers were also walking along the trail so I don't think there is much enforecement at all. You could stop and ask at De Vasselot when you arrive, if they do issue I'm sure they will provide at their offices.

  • Photo of Boland Avonture
    Boland Avonture Dec 12, 2022

    Thanx Chris.

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