The Crystal Pools hike in the Steenbras Nature Reserve is an excellent day hike to escape the holiday crowds. You must pre-book your hike as they only allow 50 people per day into the reserve. And grab a hiking buddy because you need a group of 2-10 people. You can get the permit application by emailing steenbras.naturereserve@capetown.gov.za. They will reply with a tentative booking. You can then pre-pay your R69pp entrance fee electronically or by making a bank deposit. After sending proof of payment, they will then email you the official permit.
The Steenbras Nature Reserve can be reached by taking the R44 out of Gordon's Bay. Parking for the Crystal Pools trailhead is on the right hand side of the road just after you cross the bridge over the Steenbras River. Reserve employees will be at the trailhead to check your permit.
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The trail is well marked most of the way, but very rocky so good hiking shoes are recommended. They say it is for medium to experienced hikers, but the hike to the lower pools is not difficult and we saw many children doing it.
The hike begins by going up and over the hill, then down into the river gorge. The trail follows the river for a short ways before taking a short cut up over another hill then back down into the gorge. Along this stretch you will find the first of the pools, Reed Pool, a long narrow pool named after the many reeds growing alongside. Feel free to take a dip here, but it's quite small in comparison to what lies ahead. I recommend pressing on to the real treasure.
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| Hiking through the gorge | Reed Pool |
After Reed Pool you will continue along the river. Cross a small footbridge then turn to the right and there you will find Deep Pool, another small but picturesque pool that could be a nice shady place for a break. But again, I recommend you don't waste your time swimming here, but press on.
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| Deep Pool in the gorge | Deep Pool |
A little ways further up the trail you will see Elena's Pool off to your right. This is the lowest of the big pools and the easiest to access. Take the small unmarked path down to the right to reach the pool. Beware of large rocks just below the surface in the middle of the pool.
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| Elena's Pool | Waterfall at Elena's Pool |
Continue back on the trail onwards and upwards to Family Pool. You will again need to descend on an unmarked path to reach the base of the pool. There are nice rocks here to lay out on in the sun. This pool is better photographed in the morning light as the afternoon sun will cast a dark shadow over the falls.
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| Swimming at Family Pool |
After Family pool the trail gets steep and gravelly. It is still marked and maintained, but more difficult. You will continue a little further up along the mountainside until you see a steep unmarked path down to the right toward Crystal Pool.
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| Crystal Pool from above | Crystal Pool |
After Crystal Pool the trail turns sharply upward. It is much more steep and not for the faint of heart. That's why most people stay at the lower pools. But for the brave and experienced, the Upper Pool is a nice reward. The trail will wind its way steeply through the trees and brush up the mountain side. At some points you will also need to use your hands. At one point the trail will open up and you will see a "staircase" (which also looks like a landslide) that turns steeply up the mountain. This will take you up to a viewpoint at the top. The trail is quite steep, but there are some maintained steps you can follow. At the top the trail seems to disappear and you can just find your way to a nice viewpoint. (Or you can skip the view and proceed straight to the Upper Pool.)
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| Steep trail up to the viewpoint | The three large pools from above |
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| View from the top |
Back down at the split off, continue straight ahead along the unmarked trail. Eventually this trail will also disappear and you need to climb your way upriver through the boulders until you find the Upper Pool. This is the end of the gorge and from here you can look up 100 feet or so and see a lovely waterfall cascading down the gorge wall. My recommendation is to make your way quickly to this pool and hit the others on the way down. If you're lucky, all the other hikers will have stopped at the pools below and you may have this pool entirely to yourself.
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| Upper Pool | Falls above Upper Pool |
There are a few more pools higher up, but you basically have to rock climb to get there and the rocks are quite slippery if you have wet feet. This is also a popular location for repelling (absailing) tours. I hope you enjoy the hike and the swim like we did!
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