Hiking Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge

Platteklip Gorge: The Basic Facts

Here are the basic facts about the Platteklip Gorge route:

• Easiest and Quickest: It is the easiest and quickest route to the summit of Table Mountain. It involves no scrambling or exposure to heights, has the least amount of elevation gain, and covers the shortest distance of all Table Mountain hiking routes.
• Oldest Route: It is the oldest route up Table Mountain. The first Europeans to climb the mountain gained the summit via this route.
• Least Scenic: It is the least scenic and exciting route. The hiking is tedious and the views limited. It’s better than taking the cable car to the summit (if you’re active-minded), but as far as hiking goes, it doesn’t do Table Mountain justice.
• Descent Route: It is usually used as a dedicated descent route, especially when the cable car is closed due to strong wind.
• Alternatives Available: There are about 25 other Table Mountain hiking routes to choose from, all of them more scenic and exciting, but also more strenuous and / or challenging.

Who Should Hike Platteklip Gorge?

If you want to hike up Table Mountain without complication, challenge, adventure, scenery or discovery, or if you are in bad physical condition, or if you are short on time, or if you don’t care much about nature and mountains, then Platteklip Gorge is the route to do. For everyone else, best avoid it. Because of its monotony, it’s actually tougher mentally for some than more technical and adventurous routes.

It serves the other Table Mountain hikes well as a descent route, when you’re usually tired from the ascent and you want to get down without challenge.