TRAIL RUNNING EVENTS

35km Race Route + Map

Race Route

The 35km route (actually closer to 37km!) runs 29km of the official CapeNature Whale Trail hiking path with an additional 7km on undulating management jeep track through the reserve, giving approximately 1200m ascent. The race route is marked only where necessary. Deviations from the established hiking trail will not be allowed and it is mandatory to stay on the paths at all times. There are three 3 well stocked watertables along the route.

WHALE of TRAIL - 35km Trail Run
RECORD - Men	2023 - Christiaan Greyling - 3:28:32
RECORD - Women	2023 - Lijan Burger - 3:41:02
Cut Offs	22km – 6h00, 29km – 7h30

Route Overview

START Potberg to CP 1 – 14 km – After a short loop around Potberg Enviro Centre to allow for self seeding the trail plunges into single track for your first small stream crossing and a long but runnable uphill to the top of Potberg mountain at 611 metres with panoramic views of Swellendam in the north, the Breede River below, Cape Infante in the east and Cape Agulhas in the west. You will also have a good chance of sighting the rare Cape vulture as they have a breeding colony in the cliffs. After a beautiful ridge and winding valley the trail descends towards the first watertable.
CP 1 to CP 2 (Lekkerwater) – 7 km – Now diverging from the 53km route, the 35km runs past Cupidoskraal hut and on to the management jeeptracks that service the Reserve. A fast and flat few km then turns sharply up for another few km to get over the rise and then headlong down towards the ocean. Here you get your first upclose view of the whales at the second watertable just as you hit the beach.
CP 2 to CP 3 – 8 km – On and off the sand and coastal trails to get to Vaalkrans hut with its cool blowholes, and yet another watertable.
CP 3 to FINISH at Koppie Alleen – 7 km – Along through coastal thickets with the waves crashing on one side and the tide dictating your choice of path. Take a dip in Hippo Pools, if you’re not focused solely on the finish line, before the final boardwalk leads up to Koppie Alleen where the trail ends to the welcoming cheer of the finish line, well deserved medal, fresh hot meal and drinks.

Race Map

Tips for using map below:

Change the distance measurement to Km’s on the bottom of the black border.
Press “play” on the screen for route and menu
Select Map, Satellite or Path on the top right to chose your background layout. Satellite is the best.
Click on menu and select “”Downloads” to download GPX, KML or TCX files
Click on menu and select “Hills” to show the Elevation graph on the bottom
Click on menu and select “Directions” to show route notes and important information.
Zoom in / out – Scroll over the route to get an understanding for the route and the important points.

Go to the Map on the plotaroute.com site in order to see more detail and DOWNLOAD GPS tracks