It’s time for another crag feature, folks – this time we’re looking at one for the Northern climbers with the Cableway Crags at Iron Throne Trail Park in Hartebeespoort. This great collection of crags, often referred to as “Iron Throne” offers 44 routes in total between three areas: Casterly Rock, King’s Landing and The Red Keep. Read on to find out what you need to know to enjoy a visit to this unique spot…
ACCESS
No permit is required to climb at the Cableway Crags, but since they are on private land you will need to purchase an entry ticket (around R75) for Iron Throne at the park.
No one is permitted to camp or otherwise stay at Iron Throne outside of operating hours – keep your eye on the time and make sure you are out of the park before the gate closes!
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: 07:00 – 17:00
Thursday: 07:00 – 17:00
Friday: 07:00 – 17:00
Saturday: 07:00 – 17:00
Sunday: 07:00 – 16:00
The crags are conveniently situated right beneath the Hartebeespoort Aerial Cableway (hence the name) and, if you choose to use the cableway for your approach to / departure from the crags, you should be heading back by at least 3:30pm to catch the last car and skip the long trek back down the hill. You can get all the cableway details and make a booking (if you would like) at the button below:
A dedicated crew of CityROCK Johannesburg staff and members at Iron Throne for a recent King’s Landing crag clean.
PARKING & APPROACH
The Iron Throne Trail Park is easy to find (see the Google Maps pin here) with good signage and enclosed, gated parking with a security guard – lekker! Get your entry ticket at the park office, and do the hike into the crags or take the cableway up (and/or down).
As an extra bonus, Harties Cableway has a selection of restaurants offering tasty meals and refreshments for a post-climb bite.
The approach, if you choose to hike, is a bit of a challenge – around 1km, quite steep and fairly technical on the descent with some loose rock and slippery patches. The trail is well-marked at the start, but it can get a bit overgrown so ideally take an Iron Throne alumnus with you to make sure you stay on track.
Enjoy the trails or save your energy for the climb with the cableway!
THE ROUTES
The Cableway Crags’ climbing is fantastic, with a wide selection of routes up to 24m long ranging from grades 9 to 23.
There are plenty of short, fun routes that are great for beginners learning how to lead climb outdoors, as well as some tricky lines for the senders scouting new projects. If your anchor cleaning skills are still under construction, you can head to King’s Landing, where all the routes have permadraws!
King’s Landing was established and launched back in 2021 by some of the CityROCK Johannesburg staff and members, while Casterly Rock and The Red Keep were established by Pierre Carter and friends in the mid-2010s when they bolted 15 routes between the two (the CityROCK crew has since put up another six climbs here). Note that some of the routes at Casterly Rock and The Red Keep have some rusty/missing bolts and overgrown vegetation.
Some snaps from a King’s Landing crag day.
THE CONDITIONS
The Iron Throne Trail Park is a great spot that offers fantastic climbing, hiking, trail running and mountain biking – a lovely lil place to spend the day!
The crag bases are shaded by trees with some prime hammock spots for a post-send chill. Being right under the cableway, you might hear some excited hollers from park visitors, and you can look forward to a sweeping view of Harties at the top of your climb.
The crags are best in winter when they offer all-day shade, but you can still enjoy a summer session in the early morning or afternoon (from around 12pm) – just make sure to bring along plenty of water and sunscreen (and snacks!).
Ain’t she a beaut!
Check out this gem for yourself, keep safe and stay tuned for the next featured crag!
