Lions Head 360 route
Location: Off Kloof Nek on Signal Hill Road (en route to Signal Hill)
Overview: The circular route up Lion's Head may possibly be the most hiked path on the Table Mountain massif. It offers superb views of the City and surrounds as one winds around the peak. Lion's Head is often sheltered from the stormy winter weather and the summer South Easter.
Route Description:
The route up takes anything from 30 to 45 minutes for the ultra fit, or an hour to hour and a half for the average walker. The infamous chains have been supplemented with vastly easier to use and safer stainless steel ribbed staples for hand and foot holds, but this section can easily be avoided by the alternate path going around to the Camps Bay side. Parking is on the Signal Hill road at a wood cabin used by SAN Parks and the informal parking attendants. The gravel road with a boom across it that leads to a Parapente launch spot starts here. Currently there is a line of huge Bluegums providing some shade to park under, although this is often chock-a block. Hikers may also start from the Kloof Nek parking area, and a short way along the Signal Hill road a path goes off up some steps on the left. The path follows a contour above the tar road at approx 280-300m and eventually intersects the gravel road.
A most popular event in Cape Town is to ascend Lion's Head on a full moon night and have a picnic supper on the summit (669,8m) while watching the sunset and moonrise, then descend by torchlight.
