MTB: the best trails around Stellenbosch

Are you looking for the best MTB trails around Stellenbosch?

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You’ve found it right here. Craig is a loyal #bicyclecouriers customer and he asked me about a week-long MTB trails week for 2025. They are a group of mates who plan to stay in Stellenbosch and do few daily MTB outrides from Eikestad. After chatting to local legend Bram Peereboom and school mate John Kotze, this is what we came up with. Now you can stay in Stellenbosch for a week, hit the trails in the morning, laze around in the afternoon, and explore the many wine farms and great restaurants Stellenbosch has to offer. Oh, and while you’re at it, book your accommodation with Dewald at De Haas Luxury Living in Stellenbosch, right in the Eersterivier.

PS this map below is just to give you an indication of how easy it is to access the various daily Trailsheads from within Stellenbosch. Never do you have to travel far to get onto the pristine gravel of the winelands. Suggestions include Jonkershoek; Banhoek & Boschendal; both sides of Simonsberg (Plasir de Merle; and Knorhoek, Delheim, Muratie); Coetzenburg, Eden, G-spot and Mont Marie; and the Bottelary Hills which you can access from Asara. More details on these fine MTB routes around Stellenbosch below.

A week in the winelands: Here are the Best MTB Trails in Stellenbosch

Seeing as you are doing outrides from Stellenbosch any of these days can be interchangeable and swopped with another. And the next question is, assuming Jonkershoek is the favourite MTB ride in Stellenbosch, do you start with it on day 1 or finish with it on the last day of your week-long MTB expedition in the winelands? Find the inside scoop on the inside guide and have a look at the winelandstrails overview here.

Day 1: Jonkershoek
Day 2: Simonsberg one side
Day 3: Simonsberg other side
Day 4: Banhoek en Boschendal
Day 5: Eden & Mont Marie
Day 6: Bottelary Hills

Let’s tackle them 1-by-1…

Jonkershoek MTB trails

MTO Trails in Jonkershoek at its very best. If you come down to Stellenbosch for a MTB weekend and you can only do 1 trail, which will it be? The default answer certainly has to be Jonkershoek, at least in my mind. And specifically which trail? Well, all of them inside Jonkershoek off course. They are easily readable contour routes, starting at 1 at the bottom and ascending all the way up to 7 at the top. Up Irish, down Armageddon on the LHS and up Bosluis and down Firehut on the RHS. Plus everything in-between. And the Dentist outside.

Muratie & Delheim MTB trails

Muratie and Delheim and Knorhoek and Quinn Rock are all nestled together in a cosy corner leading up to the stunning MTB trails on the foot of Simonsberg mountain on the South/Western side (in contrast to the Plasir de Merle trails on the North/Eastern side below). And other than visiting these routes on the ABSA Cape Epic, more than once. This is also where I did the shortest (read: Steepest) Everesting in South Africa. The Wildest Peacock. And I’m not entirely sure if I want to do that one again. But go up there on your MTB and feel it out for yourself, it is just 1km, with around 140 vertical meters. Enjoy!

Simonsberg MTB trails

Simonsberg conservancy MTB trails from the North/Eastern side can be accessed from various point en route. The easiest by car is from Plasir de Merle, as where the Trailseeker series MTB race started. And it was a great day out. I also met Bram en route. Or you can pop over from Banhoek and Boschendal side closer to Pniel and Johannesdal. Whichever way you choose to start, there are more than enough elevation and switchbacks to keep you happy all day long.

Banhoek & Boschendal MTB trails

Boschendal is a stunning venue and one we have used on the Tourdeboland to much delight of the guests in previous years. Plus, the Banhoek trails at the back and Boschendal are likelly the most pristine singletrack that you will encounter this week. It is an absolute delight and worth going back up for a second round. Top tip, why not start from Jonkershoek road side for the looong ascent and drop down Skyfall en route to the trails below the Banhoek Chilli Oil Company.

Coetzenburg & Eden MTB trails

Going up the tar road climb from Branchwacht onto G-spot. Or starting from Paradyskloof via Eden and either turning left down towards G-spot and Coetzenburg; or going right to climb to the Mont Marie trails. You have options. And a great day in the saddle. Best is probably to start at the top and work your way down to Eersterivier, depending on how many kms you want to clock and how much time you want to spend in the saddle. I love this route even from back in school and varsity days.

Bottalry Hills MTB trails

We usually start this with John and mates from the Bottelary road entrance opposite Hazendal. But you can just as easily hop over to Asara from Stellenbosch and get onto the trails from there. The only difference as that you’ll start your ascent from the other side. But to the same spectacular viewpoint above. And you don’t have to cover much tar to get there. Just be careful not to cycle over Freddie’s farm Goudvertrou opposite Asara — unless you are Tiaan Strauss or Corne Krige.

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