Sven's Terra Firma Trails - Kaapsehoop Trail A: Kaapsehoop - Barrett's Coaches - Wattles Loop

Introducing Mpumalanga as a Trail running destination, with regular trail reports and updates on what, where and how.

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Kaapsehoop has probably got to be one of the trails locally that get the most attention from trails runners and probably the reason most Nelspruit runners get into Trail. 

Being ±26km from Nelspruit its definitely one of the closest long trails in the area and has a lot to offer. The whole Kaapsehoop hiking trail is about 70km of mostly runnable, marked trail with not too difficult technical sections. 

I'm breaking it up into two more manageable routes. The Florence Hill route and this, the Wattles route. Wattles being the longer of the two at around 38km. Sorry to be guessing this, I went two weeks in a row and the first time the GPS stopped at Barrett's and the second time I only remembered to switch it on at Barrett's. 

Well the route to Wattles starts in the middle of the tiny town. Park your car and head out to the road, turn right and run about 300m until you see a trail to your left and a signpost that says Battery Creek Waterfall. This section starts off in the forest with a few short climbs and exits out onto sandstone trail that winds its way towards Barrett's Coaches. It's pretty straight forward going and well signposted. Its a short section to Barrett's at around 9.5km. 

From Barrett's you exit the small entrance gate and turn left up the hill towards the forestry offices and a short section of tar. Keep going and cross a cattle gate, follow the signs until you begin heading down into a ravine below. This section is probably the most technical section of the entire trail and winds its way along the edge of a mountain until it exits out onto a flat plain where you will find an intersection with wooden signposts - one saying Kaapsehoop Hut and another Wattles. Take the Wattles route (unless you are already tired which case opt for Kaapsehoop). The trail is pretty flat and runnable from here all the way to Wattles, winding along the edge of the escarpment with amazing views of the valley below. 

From Wattles you head towards a large communication tower and once again wind along the edge of the escarpment following the well marked trail with amazing trails all the way back to Kaapsehoop Hut. Order a pancake at Koek n Pan or any other restaurant and you're sorted. 

Please note that the Weather in Kaapsehoop is very unpredictable. You can have amazing clear skies on one day and thick mist the next. Winter is very nippy but this time of year is super ideal. The new grasses are growing and the trail isn't too overgrown.

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