Rocklands

Rocklands, universally recognized as one of the world's premier sandstone bouldering destinations. The pass itself spans 26.4 km along the R364 road, connecting the town of Clanwilliam to Calvinia. While globally celebrated for its thousands of world-class boulder problems, the pass also hosts highly regarded sport and traditional (trad) rock climbing sectors.

Climbing & Bouldering Overview

The Rock: Highly textured, friction-rich orange and grey Cederberg sandstone. Boulders feature wildly wind-and-water-carved geometry, yielding aggressive roofs, techy slabs, massive jugs, slopers, and sharp crimps.
Bouldering: Home to over 3,000 documented problems ranging from Font 2 to Font 8C+. Main sectors split broadly across The Pass (higher elevation, colder, featuring Roadside and Rhino Boulders) and the Agter-Pakhuis valley floor.
Rope Climbing: Excellent single-pitch sport climbing crags. A handful of multi-pitch trad lines can be found at the Faith, Hope, and Charity buttresses.

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Season & Weather

Prime Season: Runs from 30 April to 1 October (the Southern Hemisphere winter). Peak months are June through August. [1, 2]
Conditions: Winter brings crisp, cool, and dry air, offering the friction required for hard climbing. Daytime temperatures hover around 20–24°C, but nights frequently plummet toward freezing. [1, 2, 3]
Summer Warning: Summers (November to March) are punishingly hot, regularly exceeding 40°C (104°F), rendering bouldering practically impossible except for sunrise sport climbing sessions. [1, 2]

Permits & Crag Logistics

Strict Permit Policy: A valid climbing permit is mandatory for all public (CapeNature) and private land. Landowners and rangers conduct frequent inspections.
Where to Buy: Permits can be purchased online via Quicket or physical vendor outlets at De Pakhuys, Kliphuis Campsite, and Traveller's Rest.
Daily Quota: CapeNature enforces a 100-person daily access cap on environmental wilderness sectors to manage ecological impact.
Transportation: A rental car is recommended. Bouldering sectors are decentralized, spanning roughly 20km along the winding mountain pass.
Shopping: The town of Clanwilliam offers supermarket, pharma, banking & dining options consistent with any small farming town. More extensive / niche needs should be shopped for prior to leaving Cape Town.

Environmental Rules:
- No Pof (Resin/Rosin): Strictly forbidden as it permanently glazes and destroys the sandstone pores. Use pure magnesium carbonate chalk only.
- Brush Your Chalk: Climbers are required to clean ticks and excess chalk off the boulders before leaving.
- Rock Art Protection: The Cederberg is a protected World Heritage Site rich in ancient San rock paintings. Never climb on or touch any rock surface containing rock art.
- No Off-Trail Trampling: Stick exclusively to paths demarcated by rock cairns to avoid destroying the fragile endemic fynbos vegetation.

Rest Day & Food Logistics

When skin and muscles need a break, the surrounding Cederberg and Clanwilliam region offers excellent active recovery, cultural immersion, and culinary rest day activities.

Sevilla Rock Art Trail: A flat, 5 km return hiking path winding along the Brandewyn River. It features nine distinct rock art sites featuring remarkably preserved paintings left by the ancient San people.
Permit Logistics: Day permits and a detailed trail map leaflet are purchased directly from the Traveller's Rest Farm Stall.
Bonus Features: The trail includes an inviting natural rock pool for mid-hike swimming when conditions are warm.
Heuningvlei Donkey Cart Track: For a unique cultural experience, book a traditional donkey cart ride across the mountains from the top of Pakhuis Pass down to the historic, remote Moravian mission village of Heuningvlei.

The Hen House: Located right at Alpha Excelsior, this is the unofficial social epicenter for the global climbing community on rest days. Stop by for exceptionally good coffee, craft beer, breakfast toasties, and to chat about beta with other travelers.
Traveller's Rest Restaurant: Located at the eastern edge of the pass, this local staple serves hearty, traditional South African countryside plates like springbok pie, traditional potjiekos, and cold beers next to a roaring central fireplace.
Clanwilliam Town Stroll: Walk through the town center—one of South Africa’s ten oldest towns. Stop by local shops to purchase authentic veldskoene (traditional South African leather boots) or stock up on locally made biltong.

The Clanwilliam region is the exclusive global home of Rooibos tea production. It grows nowhere else on earth.

The Rooibos Teahouse

Located in the heart of Clanwilliam, this specialty venue offers an educational Rooibos tea tasting, letting you sample and smell over 100 distinct varieties and flavored blends.

House of Rooibos

Explore their factory shop display to learn about the processing history of "red gold", and buy locally produced cosmetic oils and teas at local farm prices.

Clanwilliam Dam: A massive reservoir just outside of town. During the warmer edges of the season, it is a great spot to rent a kayak, go water-skiing, or lounge by the banks.
Ramskop Wildflower Garden: Located on the edge of the dam, this botanical reserve features over 350 species of indigenous wild flora intersected by easy, flat walking paths. If your trip falls around August or September, the entire landscape erupts into a world-famous blanket of vibrant spring wildflowers. [3]
Elands Bay is a surfing escape offering a more-than-beginner break (as well as some climbing) in a small West Coast village.

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Single Pitch

Looking onto the original Rocklands, from Pakhuis Pass

Pakhuys Pass

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

min

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3146

m ASL

Single Pitch

De Pakhuys

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

min

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477

m ASL

Single Pitch

5 Pitches

Highball

Overhang

Powerful

Bouldering & Single Pitch

Rocklands Basecamp

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

min

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703

m ASL

Shade All Day

Bouldering

Sport

Bouldering & Single Pitch

Bester Crag

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A diverse crag situated across from the popular Pakyhuys accomodation

min

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730

m ASL

Single Pitch

Wild West Wall

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

The first crag on the left leaving the parking at the Pakhuys Pass, the Willd West wall has some quality routes.

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918

m ASL

Single Pitch

Biscuit Buttress

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

Bisquit Buttress is the second crag on the left walking along the dirt road from the parking.

min

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918

m ASL

Single Pitch

The Island

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A great morning warm-up crag.

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1042

m ASL

Single Pitch

Black Slab

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

This boulder has some short, steep routes

min

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920

m ASL

Single Pitch

Chapelle Rock

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

Chapelle Rock is around the corner from The Island and offers some easier vertical routes.

min

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989

m ASL

Single Pitch

Skinner Boulder

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A boulder with some short moderate routes and one 8a+ route

min

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1008

m ASL

Single Pitch

Hueco Boulder

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A boulder with hardest sport route in the Pakhuys Pass area.

min

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1018

m ASL

Single Pitch

Ceder Rouge Boulder

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A short, steep boulder with some excellent harder routes.

min

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1080

m ASL

Single Pitch

Cattle Rustler

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A large crag with red and black streaked rock with mostly intermediate grades and a few harder routes.

min

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1071

m ASL

Single Pitch

Orange Plasma Wall

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

An impressive wall of orange rock.

min

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1071

m ASL

Single Pitch

The Sun Block

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A red and black streaked wall with some quality hard routes

min

VIEW GPS TRACK

1071

m ASL

Single Pitch

The Outback

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A lesser known crag in the Pakhuys Pass with some worthwhile routes.

min

VIEW GPS TRACK

1070

m ASL

Single Pitch

The Fortress

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

Lesser known than it's neighboring crag, The Bastille, this crag has a few harder routes.

min

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1034

m ASL

Single Pitch

The Bastille

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A great crag with some quality routes ranging from grades 6a to 7c

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VIEW GPS TRACK

1034

m ASL

Adult World

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A crag behind The Bastille with some quality moderately hard routes.

min

VIEW GPS TRACK

1080

m ASL

Single Pitch

De Pakhuys

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

A mix of trad and sport routes on the crag above De Pakhuys farm

min

VIEW GPS TRACK

535

m ASL

Single Pitch

Maaschland

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Boulder

Sport

Trad

Big wall

Alpine

Ice

An all day shade crag with a great variety of routes

min

VIEW GPS TRACK

419

m ASL

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1-3 Hour

Half Day

Full Day

Multi Day

km from

3146

m ASL

De Pakhuys

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1-3 Hour

Half Day

Full Day

Multi Day

km from

Cape Town

477

m ASL

Rocklands Basecamp

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1-3 Hour

Half Day

Full Day

Multi Day

km from

Cape Town

703

m ASL

Trail

Distance

Elevation

Duration

Grade

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GAIA GPS

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AM Shade

Morning ; Afternoon ; All Day or NO Shade

Trad route with chains

10B | Ch

Equipped with x number of Bolts & Chains (lower off rings)

Alpine

Area's or routes located in mountainous regions and requiring multiple mountain skills (navigation ; extreme weather ; self sufficiency ; remote )

Ice

Area or Route requires Ice Climbing and associated Winter skills

Sport

Area or Route is fully equipped as a sport climb. Separate distinction for # of PITCHES

Sport & Trad

Area or Route is a mixture of SPORT & Trad climbing styles

Trad

Area or Route requires Traditional equipment and experties

2 Pitches

Indicates the typical # of pitches of the area or route

Special

Indicates that a specialised Rack or Traditional equipment is typically required and will be mentioned in the Route Description BETA

Standard

Indicates that typically a Standard Traditional Rack will suffice. Typically in ZA that is a 8-10 Cams + 10-15 wires/nuts.

50m

Indicates the minimum length rope needed to typically climb safely.

Double

Typically climbed using half ropes

Corner

Climbs or mostly climbs a corner system. This often requires stemming as a technique.

Crack Climb

Follows a crack-system predominantly and may require good jamming technique.

Face

Indicates the overall style. Face climbing is steeper than slab usually on small holds and edges, often feeling delicate / insecure.

Overhang

Overhanging, usually involving roofs.

Powerful

Powerful style is often in conjunction with another style but feeling more powerful than is common for the style.

Slab

Usually not quite vertical and requiring smearing and friction techniques.

Steep

Consistently steeper than Vertical but not overhanging / roof-y

Technical

Additional to general styles, requiring careful sequence and thoughtful climbing.

Vert

General vertical climbing with no other defining style.

A bold lead

A bold lead with potentially serious consequences (including a ground fall) to falling off.

Crime

Beware of high incidence of crime

Exposed Sections

Beware of exposed sections

Flooding

Be ware of localised flooding and swollen rivers & river crossings

Highball

Warning - Highball boulder

Lightning

Beware thunderstorms and lightning

Scramble Sections

Sections involve scrambling and may require a rope

Different Start & End Point

The starting and ending points for this adventure are at different locations and may require seperate transport.

Water Shortage

Water can be scarce, be sure to carry sufficient.

Climbing & Bouldering Overview

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Season & Weather

Permits & Crag Logistics

Rest Day & Food Logistics

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Pakhuys Pass

De Pakhuys

Rocklands Basecamp

Bester Crag

Wild West Wall

Biscuit Buttress

The Island

Black Slab

Chapelle Rock

Skinner Boulder

Hueco Boulder

Ceder Rouge Boulder

Cattle Rustler

Orange Plasma Wall

The Sun Block

The Outback

The Fortress

The Bastille

Adult World

De Pakhuys

Maaschland

Pakhuys Pass

De Pakhuys

Rocklands Basecamp

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