Sappi Karkloof
Trail Festival
2026
The Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival will take place at the Absa Karkloof Country Club from the 23rd to the 24th of May 2026. The event saw a massive surge in competitors in 2025 and is aiming to make 2026 even bigger and better. The event also plays host to the SA Marathon Champs and SA National Enduro Champs and the club is proud to be hosting these events in 2026.
Saturday 23rd May will be a day for the Runners with 3 trail running distances to choose from (21km, 15km and 9km). The day is also one for the Enduro riders with a Full Enduro, E-bike Enduro and an Enduro Lite.
Sunday the 24th May will be a day for the Marathon MTB riders, with MTB race distances ranging from 10km for the Fun Riders, right up to 75km for the strongest competitors. For the more fun-loving trail running crowd, there will be a 9km Fun Run.
Route Description – Trail Runs
SAT | 21km TRAIL RUN
A challenging timed running race through the Karkloof forests, boulder hopping over the majestic Karkloof River, with fitness-testing climbs to reach some magnificent views not available to the public.
SAT | 15km TRAIL RUN
Our mid-distance timed running race through the Karkloof forests, boulder hopping over the majestic Karkloof River, with some moderate climbs to bring some sense of achievement.
SAT & SUN | 9km TRAIL RUN
A less strenuous running race through the Karkloof forests, boulder hopping over the majestic Karkloof River, with some manageable climbing.
Route Description – Enduro
SAT | FULL ENDURO
This year’s Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival will host the SA National Enduro Champs. The event now offers the Enduro riders all the same riding challenges but with the addition of National bragging rights! The Full Enduro riders get to put themselves to the test with 5 full enduro stages with technical and challenging routes, to separate the best from the rest. Focus and flow is key.
NOTE: Riders competing in the Junior and Elite Categories require CSA racing licenses. Full face helmets are required as per UCI Rules.
SAT | E-BIKE ENDURO
With all the same technical routes as the Full Enduro above, but with the added power and low down weight, this class is proving to be a fast growing event.
NOTE: Full face helmets are required as per UCI Rules.
SAT | ENDURO LITE
A entry into the world of enduro for riders needing a shorter distance with 3 stages to test yourselves on, with B-lines provided for those still grasping the discipline.
NOTE: Full face helmets are required as per UCI Rules.
Route Description – MTB Marathon
SUN | 75km MTB
An ultra-tough Marathon Champs timed race for elite riders, speeding through Karkloof forests, testing your fitness up mountains and your technical ability through some of the best flowing singles tracks in the country. Pre-qualified entrants with CSA racing licenses only. No E-bikes permitted.
SUN | 60km MTB
A challenging timed race aimed at riders with good technical ability and good fitness to experience the best the Karkloof has the offer on climbs and flowing technical single tracks.
SUN | 40km MTB
A moderate timed race aimed at fitter riders wanting to test themselves on the slightly longer routes of combined single track and jeep track, with a few good climbs thrown in but less technical single track to keep the flows going with views of the majestic Karkloof Falls along the route.
SUN | 20km MTB
An easier timed race for riders looking to experience the serenity of the Karkloof forests along mostly jeep tracks and some single track without any technical obstacles to worry about, ensuring smiles all round and an enjoyable event with views of the majestic Karkloof Falls along the route.
SUN | 10km MTB Fun Ride
An easy fun ride for Kids and Parents to enjoy through the scenic jeep track roads in the forests of the Karkloof.
EVENT PRICING & TIMES
TRAIL RUNS
SATURDAY 23th MAY 2026
Registration from 06:30 to 08:30
ENTRIES ARE OPEN ON EASYREG
To enter the event, click HERE
08H00 | 21km RUN
Early Bird: R250
Normal Entry: R275
Late Entry: R325
08H10 | 15km RUN
Early Bird: R200
Normal Entry: R225
Late Entry: R275
08H20 | 9km RUN
Early Bird: R175
Normal Entry: R200
Late Entry: R250
EVENT PRICING & TIMES
MTB ENDURO
SATURDAY 23th MAY 2026
Registration from 06:30 to 08:30
ENTRIES ARE OPEN ON EASYREG
To enter the event, click HERE
08H30 | E-Bike Enduro
Early Bird: R490
Normal Entry: R540
Late Entry: R590
08H30 | Full Enduro
Early Bird: R490
Normal Entry: R540
Late Entry: R590
08H30 | Lite Enduro
Early Bird: R225
Normal Entry: R250
Late Entry: R300
EVENT PRICING & TIMES
MTB MARATHON
SUNDAY 24th MAY 2026
Registration from 05:30 to 09:50
ENTRIES ARE OPEN ON EASYREG
To enter the event, click HERE
06H30 | 75km MTB
Early Bird: R500
Normal Entry: R550
Late Entry: R600
08H00 | 60km MTB
Early Bird: R400
Normal Entry: R450
Late Entry: R500
08H30 | 40km MTB
Early Bird: R300
Normal Entry: R350
Late Entry: R400
09H15 | 20km MTB
Early Bird: R250
Normal Entry: R275
Late Entry: R325
09H40 | 10km MTB Fun Ride
Early Bird: R150
Normal Entry: R175
Late Entry: R200
09H50 | 9km Fun Trail Run
Early Bird: R175
Normal Entry: R200
Late Entry: R250
Online entries will open & close as follows:
Early Bird
Opens: 09 March 2026
Closes: 31 March 2026
Normal Entry
Opens: 01 April 2026
Closes: 17 May 2026
Late Entry
Opens: 18 May 2026
Closes: 21 May 2026
Late entries will also be available on the day of the event at the ABSA Karkloof Country Club and the late entry price will apply.
On the day entries will not be eligible for event garments.
Information – SA Marathon Champs
License requirements for riders participating in this year’s events are as follows:
Elite Men & Women
Domestic Racing License
All Age Group Championships
CSA Membership
Non-Championship Entrants
Day License if you do not have a CSA Membership
Registration for SA Marathon Champs will be held at the ABSA Karkloof Club on Saturday 23rd May from 11h00 to 16h00. It is compulsory for all participants in the 75km event (Elite Men and Woman, Sub-Vet and Veteran Men) to register on Saturday. All routes will be closed on Saturday morning but will be open again for practice from 14h00. Your CSA number board will allow you access to the course for practice on Saturday 23rd May
If you are entering SA Marathon Champs, please check the racing categories below carefully to make sure you are entering the correct event. Prizes are specific to events and categories. Junior, Youth, Sub-Junior, Sprog and Nipper categories are NOT part of SA Marathon Champs but will receive category prizes from the event:
75km MTB – Elite Men and Woman, Sub Vet Men and Veteran Men
60km MTB – Sub Vet Woman, Veteran Woman, Master Men and Woman, Grand Master Men and Woman, Junior Men and Woman, Youth Men and Woman.
20km MTB – Nipper Boys and Girls, Sprog Boys and Girls, Sub Junior Boys and Girls
Entries are open on EasyReg. To enter, click HERE
Route Maps
The routes are a work in progress as we work with local land owners to ensure the best trail experience the Karkloof has to offer. Once routes are finalised, they will be made available to the public so follow our social media channels closely for more updates.
Event Notes
1.
The routes are not currently marked, marking will not be guaranteed to be final until the day of the race and is subject to last minute changes due to harvesting operations.
2.
Routes are still being marked and cleared until the day of the event, so caution must be exercised for obstructions/traffic. Abide by all road rules.
3.
Should you want to practice the route prior to the event you require a valid members band or day permit from the club to ride the trails. Trespassers on Sappi land running/riding without these permits will be disqualified from the race.
4.
Please respect the private farm land owners at all times, they provide us access to their farm land only during the event day. Some portions of the courses cannot be accessed until the day of the event. Riding on private land before the event will be deemed trespassing. Don’t do it, save some for race day.
5.
On race day the arrows and bunting will mark the course and you must follow the route marking. The GPX files are only indicative of the route and approximate distance. Course markings on the day of the event take preference. Turn your “off course” notifications off on your electronic device.
6.
Cell signal in the Karkloof varies and we cannot accept responsibility for people getting lost using these files. Follow the route markers