Closest Town: Parys
Grading: Intermediate
Duration: 1- 4 Hours
Location (Area/Province): Free State and Northern Free State
Configuration: Various circular and return options.
Start Point: At the Deelfontein Guest house.
Access: Free for farm guests, entry fee payable for visitors. Booking is essential
Beware of: Steep sections, loose gravel and lightning on ridges
Facilities: Change rooms, showers, braai facilities and a range of accommodation options
Cell Reception: None
OVERVIEW
Deelfontein lies in the heart of the Vredefort Dome, a unique geological formation caused by the impact of an asteroid roughly 10 kilometres wide about 2 200-million years ago. It is incidentally South Africa’s newest world heritage site. The farm lies on the southern side of the Vaal River, nestled between two of the concentric ridges typical of the dome area. It is here, on 170 hectares of bergland covered with near-pristine bushveld that you will find more than 50 kilometres of mountain-bike trails to explore.
On your bike
The terrain is mountainous bush- and grassveld. The mountain-bike routes include dirt road, farm tracks and at least 19 kilometres of single-track sections on which you can explore the mountain tops. Configured as a network of single-track loops branching off a jeep track backbone, the trails offer many options of distance and grading. There are easy, level and short options for the young, the unfit or those who want to enjoy the magnificent views. For serious training, the highly technical routes take advantage of the more than 200-metre elevation differences and offer serious challenges.
Despite the secluded setting, Deelfontein is only 40 kilometres from the N1 freeway and 140 kilometres from Johannesburg. Riding opportunities are not limited to Deelfontein – the rest of the dome beckons, with more than 100 kilometres of dirt road winding through the mountainous terrain. This is the home of the Crater Cruise MTB race, one of the premium mountain-bike events in South Africa.
Off the bike
Deelfontein offers a variety of exciting outdoor activities:
GPS: 26°56́́́′37,80″ South / 27°16′16,48″ East
Deelfontein Mountain Biking & Hiking in the Vredefort Dome on Trailforks.com