Berg River Dam Matoppie Loop Hike

By Vicky · Published Jan. 29th, 2026

When you buy through links highlighted with an asterisk (*) on this site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

This hike at Berg River Dam follows a contour loop around Matoppie with great views of the reservoir and Franschhoek Valley.

Berg River Dam Matoppie Loop Hike Map

Location

This walk starts at a small gravel car park at the gate into Berg River Dam area. It’s along Robertsvlei Road, about 5 minutes drive from Franschhoek and 1hr10 from central Cape Town.

Tips

Permits to walk in the Berg River Dam area are R80 per person and can be paid online. There are instructions at the car park.
In summer, set off early as there is no shade on this hiking route.
Useful for many hikes, get an offline hiking App such as Organic Maps.
Read our Cape Winelands Highlights Guide for more nearby hiking ideas, or find even more hikes in our South Africa Hiking Guide.

Berg River Dam Matoppie Loop Hiking Route

Hiking by Berg River Dam in South Africa Cape Winelands

From the car park, walk along the track through the gate. Take the first main track to the right and follow this as it makes a slight bend and continues to a larger track. Head straight across the larger track and up the track on the other side.

Almost immediately, take the path on the left heading up Matoppie Hill. In roughly 200 metres, take the smaller path on the left that contours along the slope. This path bends right, passing some old silos. Just after these, take the small path to the right heading upwards. There’s some vegetation slightly overgrowing the path here, but it’s just for a short distance.

Walking along the Contour Path

Hiking trail around Matoppie Hill Loop in Berg River Dam

Soon you’ll reach a track contouring along the hillside. Turn left here. After about 600 metres, the path gets a bit smaller, but continues to contour along the slope. Keep right at the next junction to avoid heading downhill to the lake. Stay on this path, and in a few kilometres you’ll cross another path heading diagonally downwards.

Walking in south africa in the cape winelands

Keep straight on and the path will soon bend right, around Matoppie Hill and towards Franschhoek Valley. The path continues to contour and soon meets another path. Keep going onwards, now with lovely views over Franschhoek.

When you reach a junction almost directly above a chapel in a lake below, take the track leading down to the left. You’ll soon be back at the main track at the base of the hill. Follow the same route you took at the beginning back to the car and the end of the Berg River Dam Matoppie Loop Hike.