Silvermine / Noordhoek Peak / Blackburn Ravine

This hike offers spectacular views of False Bay, Noordhoek Beach, Chapman’s Peak, The Sentinal, Hout Bay and Hout Bay Harbor.

Getting there: park at the reservoir parking lot at Silvermine.
Difficulty: well-marked trails, strenuous ascent

Walk up the boardwalk to the reservoir wall. Cross the wall, and head up the jeep track leading away and slightly left (toward Fish Hoek direction)

After about half an hour of steady uphill, and just before you reach Noordhoek Peak, a trail leads off the main jeep track to the left, down the mountainside to the saddle between Noordhoek Peak (where you are) and Chapman’s Peak. At the lowest point of the saddle you will reach a junction of paths — take the one heading up the slight hill to the left towards Hout Bay.

The contour path above Chapman’s Peak Drive is awesome. It is part of the Hoerikwaggo Trail. Go as far as Blackburn Ravine, where you will head up the steep ravine in the shadow of the impressive cliffs below Constantiaberg. This is part of the Old Fisherman’s Trail Run.

At the top of the ravine, you will find the wooden lookout deck which has the most incredible views of Hout Bay and The Sentinal. This is definitely worth a break with something to eat, and a flask of something warm in colder weather.

From the lookout deck, head up the path headed in the direction of the reservoir. You will soon reach the jeep track that you started on and left before Noordhoek Peak. Follow it through Prinskasteel Valley below the Constantiaberg mast all the way back down to the reservoir.

It took me 4 hours of fast walking to complete this route. In summer you can enjoy a swim in the reservoir.