Hiking trails in Johannesburg

Hiking spots in Johannesburg sit on municipal ridges and nature reserves within an hour of the city: Melville Koppies, Suikerbosrand grasslands and the Cradle of Humankind's limestone hills.

Johannesburg's hiking runs through the city's own municipal nature reserves rather than a single mountain range. Klipriviersberg, at 680 hectares, is the largest, with official walks from short routes to nine kilometres through veld and koppies where blesbok and zebra roam. Melville Koppies is a 150-hectare JCPZ ridge reserve in three sections — Central is Sunday-only with a Friends maintenance fee; East is the daily dog walk. Kloofendal, on the western edge of the Witwatersrand, sits on some of the earliest gold-mining ground on the Reef and is free to enter.

Further out, Suikerbosrand near Heidelberg is a Gauteng provincial reserve — confirm trails and fees on 011 439 6300 rather than a copied tariff. Cradle Moon near Muldersdrift is a private lodge conservancy. Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve at Kromdraai is a separate private ticket (official self-drive R360; Savannah Trails R500). Official JCPZ picnic parks are Delta Park, Zoo Lake and Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. Modderfontein Reserve is a separate paid private park with hiking and a Dam 3 picnic. Golden Harvest Park at Northgate is a fenced JCPZ walk with a gate fee (amount unlisted). The Wilds is a 16-hectare Houghton koppie. Rietfontein Nature Reserve in Paulshof is a separate 25-hectare JCPZ walking-trail reserve — not Pretoria's Rietvlei. Dogs are welcome at those JCPZ picnic parks and at Melville Koppies' East section, but not at most hiking reserves or at Modderfontein.

14 listings are shown here, graded 2 easy, 1 moderate, with a measured distance of 3.9km where distance is tracked. 3 of 14 are dog-friendly.

Walking trails in Johannesburg

Walking trails sit on municipal ridges — Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Most municipal reserves are free. Cradle Moon and Bothongo charge a published day rate. Sort Johannesburg by nearest.

Places to hike in Johannesburg

Places to hike in Johannesburg on this hub: Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Municipal ridges are free. Cradle Moon and Bothongo publish a day rate. Sort Johannesburg by nearest.

Hiking trails in JHB

Hiking trails in JHB on this hub are the same Johannesburg listings: Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Most municipal reserves are free. Cradle Moon and Bothongo charge a published day rate. Sort Johannesburg by nearest.

Hiking spots in Johannesburg

Hiking spots in Johannesburg on this hub are the same municipal ridges and paid days: Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Compare fee and dogs in the table. Sort Johannesburg by nearest.

Free hiking trails Johannesburg

Delta Park; Johannesburg Botanical Gardens; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Zoo Lake have no listed trail or park entrance fee. Parking or a Friends Sunday fee can still apply. All 5 free Johannesburg listings.

Guides for this region

Near you

14 trails listed.

Name Area Distance Grade Fee Hours Dogs
Cradle Moon Hiking Trail Muldersdrift, Johannesburg — — R100 — No
Delta Park Victory Park, Johannesburg — easy Free — Yes
Golden Harvest Park Northgate, Johannesburg — — See listing — —
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens Emmarentia, Johannesburg — — Free Open sunrise to sunset. Yes
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Kibler Park, Johannesburg — — Free KNRA: summer 06:00–18:00, winter 07:00–17:00, 365 days. Be out by gate closing. JCPZ does not publish hours. No
Kloofendal Nature Reserve Roodepoort, Johannesburg — easy Free 06:00–18:00 daily, including public holidays. No
Melville Koppies Nature Reserve Melville, Johannesburg — — See listing Central: Sundays 08:00–11:30 except Christmas and New Year. East and West: daily, dawn to dusk. —
Modderfontein Reserve Modderfontein, Johannesburg — — R50 Gates 06:00–18:00 daily, summer and winter. No
Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve Kromdraai, Johannesburg — — R360 Monday closed. Tuesday–Friday 08:00–17:00; Saturday 08:00–18:00; Sunday 08:00–17:00; public holidays 08:00–18:00. No
Rietfontein Nature Reserve Paulshof, Johannesburg — — See listing — —
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve Johannesburg — — See listing — —
The Wilds Nature Reserve Houghton, Johannesburg — — See listing — —
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden Roodepoort, Johannesburg 3.9 km moderate See listing 08:00–17:00 daily. No
Zoo Lake Parkview, Johannesburg — — Free — Yes
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Cradle Moon Hiking Trail

Muldersdrift, Johannesburg

Official hiking R100 per person (includes the R50 day-visitor entry) on a 1,600-hectare conservancy in the Cradle of Humankind — no picnic, no pets.

  • No dogs
Entry from R100
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Delta Park

Victory Park, Johannesburg · easy

A free, dog-friendly green space in Victory Park with three tree-lined dams, walking trails and the Florence Bloom Bird Sanctuary.

  • Picnic
  • Dogs OK
  • Free entry
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Golden Harvest Park

Northgate, Johannesburg

Official JCPZ 55-hectare fenced park near Northgate Dome: walks around a dam and bushveld, iron-smelting koppie, guard at the gate. There is an entrance fee — confirm the current amount.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Johannesburg Botanical Gardens

Emmarentia, Johannesburg

Official JCPZ picnic lawns at Emmarentia Dam: 81ha, sunrise to sunset, dogs in designated areas, no open fires or braais.

  • Picnic
  • Dogs OK
  • Free entry
  • Open sunrise to sunset.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve

Kibler Park, Johannesburg

Official JCPZ 680-hectare fenced reserve in Kibler Park: free walks, short routes to 9km, no dogs, no picnic on the trails. Maps at the Peggy Vera entrance.

  • No dogs
  • Free entry
  • KNRA: summer 06:00–18:00, winter 07:00–17:00, 365 days. Be out by gate closing. JCPZ does not publish hours.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Kloofendal Nature Reserve

Roodepoort, Johannesburg · easy

A fenced, free 128-hectare JCPZ reserve in Roodepoort: walks of 30 minutes to 3 hours, amphitheatre picnic, dam hide. Open 06:00–18:00 daily. No dogs.

  • No dogs
  • Free entry
  • 06:00–18:00 daily, including public holidays.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Melville Koppies Nature Reserve

Melville, Johannesburg

Official JCPZ 150-hectare ridge reserve in three sections. Central is Sunday-only (Friends: R100 adult). East is the daily dog walk, about 1km. No picnic.

  • Central: Sundays 08:00–11:30 except Christmas and New Year. East and West: daily, dawn to dusk.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Modderfontein Reserve

Modderfontein, Johannesburg

Private 265-hectare reserve on Norfolk Lane: official hiking and bird-hide entry R50 adults, picnic at Dam 3, 06:00–18:00 daily, no pets.

  • Picnic
  • No dogs
  • Gates 06:00–18:00 daily, summer and winter.
Entry from R50
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve

Kromdraai, Johannesburg

Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve at Kromdraai. Official self-drive day ticket R360 adults (picnic included). Guided Savannah Trails R500 adults, 2 hours, minimum 4 people. Closed Mondays. No pets.

  • No dogs
  • Monday closed. Tuesday–Friday 08:00–17:00; Saturday 08:00–18:00; Sunday 08:00–17:00; public holidays 08:00–18:00.
Entry from R360
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Rietfontein Nature Reserve

Paulshof, Johannesburg

Official JCPZ 25-hectare indigenous reserve in Paulshof, about 24km north of the city: quartzite koppie and walking trails. Not Pretoria’s Rietvlei.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve

Johannesburg

Gauteng provincial reserve on the R550 near Heidelberg: a large Highveld grassland, not a Joburg municipal park. Confirm trails, fees and gate times on 011 439 6300.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

The Wilds Nature Reserve

Houghton, Johannesburg

Official JCPZ 16-hectare Houghton reserve: hillside paths, city views, a sundial at the peak, waterfalls and fountains. Walks 30 minutes to 1 hour. Walk in groups.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden

Roodepoort, Johannesburg · 3.9 km · moderate

A SANBI-run botanical garden in Roodepoort with a 3.9km Geological Trail that starts at the 70-metre Witpoortjie Falls.

  • No dogs
  • 08:00–17:00 daily.
Footbridge over a waterfall in a Johannesburg nature garden
Johannesburg region · representative photo, not this trail

Zoo Lake

Parkview, Johannesburg

Official JCPZ picnic park next to Johannesburg Zoo: dog-friendly lawns, a play area, boat rides and the Coronation Fountain. Free entry.

  • Picnic
  • Dogs OK
  • Free entry

Hiking trails in Johannesburg — common questions

Where are hiking trails in Johannesburg?
Hikeza lists 14 listings in Johannesburg — 10 trails and 4 picnic spots. Compare distance, grade, fee and dogs in the table on this page, or sort Johannesburg by nearest.
Where are walking trails in Johannesburg?
Hikeza lists 14 Johannesburg listings. Walking trails sit on municipal ridges — Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Most municipal reserves are free. Cradle Moon and Bothongo charge a published day rate. Compare them in the table on this page.
Where are places to hike in Johannesburg?
Places to hike in Johannesburg on this hub include Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Filter to free entry or nature reserves, or sort Johannesburg by nearest.
Where are hiking places in Johannesburg?
Hiking places in Johannesburg are the same municipal ridges and paid days as the places-to-hike list: Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Compare fee and dogs in the table.
Where are hiking trails in Gauteng?
Johannesburg listings on this hub are the municipal ridges and the paid days toward Muldersdrift and Kromdraai. Pretoria is a separate list — walking trails in Pretoria cover Tshwane reserves and the Magaliesberg day hikes. Compare Johannesburg in the table here.
Where are hiking trails in Johannesburg south?
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in Kibler Park is the Johannesburg south listing. Free walks, short routes to 9km, no dogs, no picnic on the trails. Maps at the Peggy Vera entrance.
What do hiking trails in Johannesburg cost?
Delta Park; Johannesburg Botanical Gardens; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Zoo Lake have no listed entrance fee. Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Modderfontein Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve have published day rates. Compare the fee column in the table.
Where are hiking trails in JHB?
Hiking trails in JHB on this hub are the same Johannesburg listings: Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Most municipal reserves are free. Cradle Moon and Bothongo charge a published day rate.
Where are hiking spots in Johannesburg?
Hiking spots in Johannesburg on this hub are the same municipal ridges and paid days: Cradle Moon Hiking Trail; Golden Harvest Park; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; and 2 more. Compare fee and dogs in the table, or sort Johannesburg by nearest.
Where are free hiking trails Johannesburg?
Delta Park; Johannesburg Botanical Gardens; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Zoo Lake have no listed trail or park entrance fee. Parking or a Friends Sunday fee can still apply. Filter this hub to free entry.
Which hiking trails in Johannesburg allow dogs?
Delta Park; Johannesburg Botanical Gardens; Zoo Lake. Leash and permit rules still vary — read the listing before you go.
Which nature reserves are listed in Johannesburg?
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Modderfontein Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Rietfontein Nature Reserve; Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve; The Wilds Nature Reserve. Filter this hub to Nature reserves to hide picnic lawns and signed contour paths that sit inside a park.
Which hiking trails in Johannesburg have published hours?
7 listings on this hub print hours from the official page, including Johannesburg Botanical Gardens; Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve; Kloofendal Nature Reserve; Melville Koppies Nature Reserve; Modderfontein Reserve; Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve; Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden. Set Hours to Published, or open Johannesburg published hours. A dash in the Hours column means we have not found published hours — confirm before you go.

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