RECENT fires in the Franschhoek area have caused significant damage to parts of the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve. For safety reasons, sections of our trail network will remain closed to hikers while restoration work is undertaken.
The Uitkyk and DuToitskop trails are closed to regular hikers as the footbridge that secures safe access to the two routes has been destroyed. A second bridge on the Uitkyk Trail was also damaged. Restoration work on the two bridges began Monday, 26 January 2026, but there is currently no confirmed timeline for reopening the routes.
The Perdekop Trail remains open. However, hikers cannot complete the full circular route as the Perdekop and Uitkyk routes merge and share the same footbridge, so hikers who wish to hike to Perdekop will need to double back after reaching the peak to avoid the damaged sections of the Uitkyk Trail.
That being said, while we advise against casual hikers visiting the reserve, experienced hikers are welcome to visit should they feel comfortable navigating unstable ground caused by fire damage. They should proceed with extreme caution.
Updates will be shared as restoration progresses.
MONT ROCHELLE NATURE RESERVE 