LITTLE FALLS RIDGE WALK
A clean and safe walk for early summer mornings and warm winter
days. Great views, lots of natural vegetation and some good
heart thumping exercise all contained in a neat 3.5 km circular
route.
Directions:
The walk is on top of a ridge in Little Falls. Access is off
Wilgerood Road - turn north at Topaz Avenue and left into
Malachite Street. .
Dog Friendliness: There are no signs indicating any regulations.
But do not be tempted to walk your dog on the other side of the
valley in the Kloofendal reserve as there are wild animals that
may be disturbed or injured by your dog(s).
Walk Time: About 1 hour.
Parking: There used to be parking at the end of Malachite
Street, but I believe it has been fenced off now. You may have
to drive around to find another parking spot, or park at the
petrol station in Wilgerood Road.
Safety: It seems very safe, but as usual, try and walk in a
small group with dogs.
Facilities: None.
Water: None.
The Walk: Follow the path at the end of Malachite Street. It
will gradually take you to a small saddle on the crest of the
ridge. Turn left (west) onto the path running along the ridge
and continue up the slope.
There are stunning views to the north and south. The path is
easy to follow and runs just south of the ridge crest.
After about 5-10 minutes the path leads you down to another
small saddle before ascending again to the highest point.
Somebody has erected a wooden cross and there are several well
appointed rocks on which you can sit and admire the view.
Once you have caught your breath, continue west along the ridge
path. The path becomes indistinct as you near the end of the
ridge which overlooks a flat area with protea trees and is
bounded by houses. Running through the proteas is a distinctive
path - this is what you need to aim at. Don't worry, you can
quite easily make your way down the steep rocky slope to this
path.
When you reach it, turn right and follow it around the ridge.
You will be doubling back along the lower northern section of
ridge along which you have just been walking. The path is level
for about 400 m before it starts to descend towards the houses
on Montrose Avenue.
Eventually you will reach a flat section bounded by houses to
the north and the rocky ridge to the south. There are several
tall protea trees that give good shade if you want a rest. Just
after you reach the flat section, the path splits. Take the
right hand fork which heads upwards back towards the ridge. (The
left hand fork leads down to a gap in the houses on Montrose
Avenue.) The path leads you gently upwards over an old stone
wall past a cliff face a bit further up. Eventually it levels
off near the top.
At a small pass you reach the path that runs along the spine of
the ridge that you were walking on earlier. To your right is the
section you did earlier. Look for a path that leads diagonally
down to the left which will take you back to your car at
Malachite Street (don't continue straight ahead).
Watch Out For: Take stout shoes to handle the rocky steep
sections. Take water for you and your dog(s). There is some
broken glass at various sections on the route, especially at the
cross on top of the ridge.
© Dogwalk Publications -
14 January 2008
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