Saltriver Circular Trail

This is a relatively easy hike, which starts at the top of the valley and decends gradually down to the Saltriver estuary, along the coast and then up (more effort) past a beautiful viewpoint of Nature's Valley.

Driving from the N2 National road (coming from Plettenberg Bay side), take the first R102 turn-off towards Natures Valley.

Follow the road for 7.9 kms until you see a picnic spot with chairs and tables on the right of the road (You'll see a sign saying "Feeding of Baboons prohibited" on the left side of the road right opposite it) 

Park your car here, remove valuables, 

grab your gear and duck underneath the boom  (err chain) you'll see in front of you to get onto the path. After a short walk (10-15 mins) you'll reach a fork. Follow it to the left towards Saltriver. You'll pass by many species of Fynbos and have beautiful views of the Tsitsikamma mountains to your left.

This gives way to the forest with Keurboom, Candlewood and some Yellowwood trees. You'll notice many bird species and might see bushbuck or see evidence of bushpig.

After roughly 30-40 minutes, you'll notice a fork to the left. This leads down to Nature's Valley, past a beautiful lookout point overlooking Nature's Valley and is the path you will be returning on, on the circular route.

(You can also take a left here, walk for about 10 minutes to get to the look-out point and another ten minutes to return, if you are not going to do the circular, but end your hike in Nature's Valley.)

You carry on straight however to decend down a sharp drop, just before you reach the beach at the Saltriver mouth.

This, you'll notice is a beautiful lunch spot, and nice to have a swim at to cool down in summer.

Here you might also be lucky enough to see the cape clawless otter.

You'll notice their footprints in the sand, close to the rocks.

 They are equally comfortable in salt and sea water, with a diet consisting mainly of fish and crabs. If you brought binoculars you'll see a wide variet of species out over the estuary.

Head over to the east side of the beach to pick up the trail at the end of the beach to the left of where the rocks begin.

It takes you above the rocks through a section of forest, and you'll notice a couple of paths down to the ocean, which you could take to different viewpoints. If you stay on the path however, you'll exit on a piece of rocky beach.

From here its easy sailing all the way to Nature's Valley, with only one section you'd might have to use some careful footwork over the rocks, when its high tide. 

The most dangerous section have been fitted with steps and railings, and after this its an easy walk along the beach.

Once on the main beach, hug the bush to find the path that leads back up the mountain. Its about the second path. If you don't find it, as it might be difficult, follow the path to the little shop, and behind the toilets follow the path along the fence to join up with the path up the mountain.

This is an initial steep accent, but you will be rewarded with the beautiful look-out point on the way up over the Village (if you didn't veer of earlier). 

Once you're on top of the plateau again, take the right fork and follow the path back to the picnic spot.

Total Time Circular: 4 Hours

You might decide to end your hike in Nature's Valley, if you organised transport beforehand in which case the hike will take about 2.5 hours.