Lion's Head Summit Trail

Lion's Head is a 669 m peak between the Atlantic seaboard and the city bowl of Cape Town, in South Africa's Western Cape, and its summit trail is among the most popular hikes in Table Mountain National Park. The trailhead is the car park on Signal Hill Road near Kloof Nek, about ten minutes by Uber, Bolt or taxi from the city centre. Visitors without a car can ride the MyCiTi bus to Kloof Nek and walk about 15 minutes. Parking is limited and fills early on sunny mornings, so ride-hailing is often easier. No permit is required for the walk. The route is about 5.5 km round trip with roughly 360 m of climbing, and most hikers need two to three hours. The path spirals around the mountain on a wide dirt and rock trail, with views opening up toward Camps Bay, Clifton and Table Bay. Near the top the route steepens and reaches two short sections with chains and ladders, where hands are needed for balance. A faster, less exposed bypass path exists around the first rocky section for those who prefer to avoid scrambling. There is little shade on the spiral and no water source, so water must be carried. Landmarks include the long traverse along the western side, the steep final climb to the summit and the 360-degree views of Table Mountain, Devil's Peak and Robben Island. Turn around at the foot of the ladders if wind or cloud picks up, as the final section is exposed. There are no huts or shelters, and bail-out is simply back down the same path. Sunrise and full-moon hikes are popular, so a headlamp and a companion group are useful.