The renowned Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival returns to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May, bringing together mountain bikers, trail runners, families and outdoor enthusiasts for a weekend that showcases some of South Africa’s most celebrated trails. Hosted at the Absa Karkloof Country Club, the festival continues to grow as both a premier sporting event and a powerful contributor to the local economy and community development initiatives.
Paid partnership with Sappi
This year’s festival once again offers something for everyone – from elite competition to family-friendly adventure. The event will host both the SA Marathon Championships and SA National Enduro Championships, attracting top riders from around the country, while also welcoming recreational riders and runners looking to experience the Karkloof trails and forests for themselves.
Saturday’s programme focuses on trail running and enduro riding, with runners able to choose between 21km, 15km and 9km trail run options through the forests, river crossings and spectacular scenery of the Karkloof region. Enduro riders can test themselves in the Full Enduro, E-Bike Enduro or Enduro Lite events, with the national championship title adding extra prestige to the weekend’s racing. With legendary trails like “The Face”, “Bachelor” and “Prodigal Son” featured in the line-up, the enduro is sure to be a fantastic day out on the bigger travel bikes.
On Sunday, the spotlight shifts to the mountain biking marathon events, with a route for every kind of rider — from the relaxed 10km Fun Ride and scenic 20km intermediate route, to the ever-popular 40km challenge that includes a healthy mix of flowing singletrack and fast jeep track. Riders looking to dig a little deeper can tackle the tough but rewarding 60km route, where big climbs are balanced by long, flowing descents through the forests, while the demanding 75km marathon championship race will test the country’s top endurance riders.
“This year’s 60km and 75km are going to be fast and fun, with a bit less climbing than in previous years. We’ve put in some amazing singletrack; the Rockwood Angel has had a revamp too. So, it’ll be a quick climb, descent, another quick climb and then 7km of downhill on incredible singletrack. And we’ve added a little bit of spice in the last 10km of the 75, so I think that is where the race is going to blow up!” said the Karkloof Club’s Vice Chairman, Nick Stubbs.
But beyond the racing, the Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival represents something far bigger for the region. The trail network and the year-round recreational access have become an important source of tourism, job creation and economic activity for local communities in the Midlands. Visitors travel from around South Africa to ride and run in the area, supporting accommodation establishments, restaurants, guides, local suppliers and event service providers throughout the region.
Importantly, the Karkloof trail network has also become a platform for meaningful shared-value projects and conservation work. Through initiatives led by the Karkloof Country Club and its partners, the broader trail ecosystem contributes towards environmental stewardship, community upliftment and education initiatives in the region. These include work linked to the local conservancy, educational support programmes and community initiatives that create long-term benefits beyond race weekend itself.
The collaborative model between landowners, forestry operations, conservation stakeholders and the outdoor recreation sector has helped position Karkloof as an example of how sustainable trail tourism can support both environmental and social impact in rural areas.
Mark Barnado, General Manager of Sappi Forests in KwaZulu-Natal, says Sappi is proud to continue supporting an event that creates both recreational and community value.
“Every year the Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival brings an incredible energy to the Midlands, and we’re excited to once again welcome both local participants and visitors from around the country onto the Sappi Karkloof trails for this special weekend. The event not only showcases the beauty of the region and the quality of the trail network, but also highlights the positive impact that outdoor recreation can have on local communities, tourism and job creation.
“The Sappi Trails Programme remains an important part of Sappi’s broader impact work, helping to create access to outdoor spaces while supporting partnerships that contribute to conservation, community development and sustainable recreational opportunities.”
With world-class trails, championship racing, family-friendly events and a strong community ethos, the 2026 Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival promises another memorable celebration of adventure in the heart of the Midlands.
More information and entries are available via the Karkloof Country Club official website.
Paid partnership with Sappi
