General Trail Use Guidelines

Respect the environment, landowners and other trail users.
Alerts issued for things such as tree harvesting or fires take priority over trail use.
Trails are available for use by cyclists, runners and hikers alike, depending on the area that you use.
Safety is your responsibility.
Each user must be in possession of a valid permit where/when required by the land owner/manager.
Cyclists must wear helmets at all times for their own protection.
Respect official landowner signage, which has been placed there for a reason.
Stay on the demarcated routes, where applicable. Where no signage is available, you have the option to download the GPX file from this site for self-navigation and ensure that your device (watch, cycling computer or smartphone) is sufficiently charged.
Do not use the routes/trails alone.
Kids must be accompanied by adults.
Do not litter.
Don’t take dogs into areas where they are not allowed, and always keep them on a leash.
No fires, smoking or camping allowed.
No unauthorised motorised vehicles allowed.
Do not remove, damage or disturb fauna or flora.
No unauthorised trail building or opening of new routes is allowed without written consent from the landowner.
Do not change/adjust/interfere with any infrastructure along the trail, eg. course design or trail features, harvesting equipment, fences, signage or contractor’s equipment. This may result in a criminal offence.
Please report vandalism: info@georgetrails.org.za or on a social media platform.

Your assistance in adhering to these rules will help keep George Trails an enjoyable experience for everybody and keep unnecessary friction to a minimum. Landowners reserve the right to access their land and we need to respect their rules. Let’s all work together, be safe and have fun in the #trailrepublic

Trail Etiquette

Please follow these ‘common sense’ guidelines to ensure everyone has a great time in the trails

Respect other trail users
Respect land owners/managers and the natural environment
Move out of the way of faster users
Cyclists, make runners/hikers aware that you are approaching
Leave only footprints and tracks, don’t litter
Look out for trail users moving in the opposite direction

George Trails only provides information on routes and all routes were clear and accessible when created and uploaded and free of charge to use, unless mentioned otherwise. George Trails is not a landowner and all routes cross the land of landowners, be it government, private or other. George Trails cannot be held liable for route alterations or redirects because of landowners, natural disasters or anything else. This includes flooding, fires, harvesting and more. Please be prepared for these variations that may occur, and please let us know when you find them, so we can correct/alter the information.

Trail Terminology

Term	What it Represents	How it Relates to the Trail	Example: Up 100m, Down 50m, Up 50m
Elevation Gain	The total cumulative vertical distance climbed throughout the entire route.	This is the most important metric for gauging a route’s physical difficulty and is what you should look for (e.g., 420 m).	150 m (100 m + 50 m)
Total Ascent	Identical to Elevation Gain. The sum of all positive elevation changes.	This is the precise term used on detailed elevation charts to measure total climbing effort.	150 m
Total Descent	The total cumulative vertical distance you went down.	Used to calculate the full up-and-down profile. Significant descent can be hard on the joints.	50 m
Max. Elevation (Highest Elev)	The absolute highest altitude point you reached on the trail, measured from sea level.	A static reference point; does not measure total effort.	486 m
Min. Elevation	The absolute lowest altitude point reached on the trail.	Defines the bottom of the route’s vertical range.	e.g., 294 m
Elev Difference	The difference between the Max. Elevation and the Min. Elevation.	Measures the vertical range of the terrain, not the total distance climbed.	192 m (486 m – 294 m)
Elevation	On its own, this usually means the current altitude or the Highest Elevation.	Not a measure of effort for the whole route. (Same as Highest Elev)	Elevation: 486m