Lion's Head hike, Cape Town: the spiral path to the top

Section by section

• The start: the trailhead and parking are on Signal Hill Road. The path begins as a wide gravel track and climbs steeply from the first steps, with benches looking back at Table Mountain.
• Round the mountain: the path spirals round the peak, so the view keeps changing: Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles and Camps Bay, then Robben Island out in the bay.
• The split: higher up, the path forks. The shorter branch climbs metal ladders and chains up the rock; the longer one goes over the rocks without them. Many people go up one and down the other.
• The summit: a small rocky top with a 360-degree view over the Atlantic seaboard, the city and Table Mountain. The last section is narrow, so expect to wait for people coming the other way.

Terrain and how hard it is

Lion's Head is moderate to hard for its size because the climb is steep from the start. The last section, over rock with ladders and chains, is the hardest part, and coming down can feel unnerving if you do not like heights.

The walk to the top takes about an hour, and most people take one and a half to two and a half hours there and back, longer when the path is busy.

On our map the main path to the summit covers about 2.1 km one way.

Best time to go

Cape Town's drier months, from about October to April, are the most reliable, but summer afternoons on the open slopes are very hot. Sunrise is quieter than sunset, when the queue at the chains can be long. Postpone if it is very windy or wet.

Full-moon hikes are a Cape Town tradition. SANParks says to do them only in a group, led by someone with experience.

What to bring

• A head torch for sunrise, sunset or full-moon hikes.
• Shoes with good grip for the rock and ladders.
• Water, especially in summer.
• A warm, waterproof layer: the weather changes quickly.
• A fully charged phone, with the park emergency number, 086 110 6417, saved.
• Company: SANParks advises never hiking alone.

Getting there, entry and fees

The trailhead is on Signal Hill Road, off Kloof Nek Road above the city. SANParks has a visitor information point at the Lion's Head parking area. MyCiTi buses stop on Kloof Nek Road, about 600 m from the start.

South African National Parks (SANParks) publishes daily conservation fees only for its gated sites in Table Mountain National Park: Boulders, Cape Point, Newlands, Oudekraal, Silvermine and Tokai. Lion's Head is not one of them. SANParks publishes no entry fee, permit or opening hours for the Lion's Head path, and a guide is not required. Official page: www.sanparks.org/parks/table-mountain/rates-entry-fees

Checked on 8 November 2026 against the official park website; confirm current fees before you go.

Keep the hike

We print the route on the real terrain, so the peak rises in 3D with the spiral path raised in colour round it. Add the date of your sunrise or full-moon hike and the names of the group.