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Otter Trail

Otter Trail — the trail guide

The Otter Trail is a 36.6 km trek in South Africa, typically walked in 5 days, with 1844 m of total ascent. It rates Moderate on our published rubric (50 m of gain per km, topping out at 204 m).

The Otter Trail is South Africa's original multi-day hike, opened in 1968 and running 42.5 km west along the rugged Tsitsikamma coast in Garden Route National Park, from Storms River Mouth to Nature's Valley. Hikers spend five days and four nights in basic log cabins, scrambling in and out of forested river ravines past waterfalls and fynbos-topped cliffs. It's self-catered and famously hard to book — only twelve people set off each day, so permits sell out close to a year ahead.

Quick facts

Distance36.6 km
Total ascent1844 m
Typical duration5 days
Difficulty (computed)Moderate
Steepness50 m gain per km
High point204 m
CountrySouth Africa
RegionSouth Africa

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Moderate" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 0 m · high point 204 m · 1844 m total ascent over 36.6 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 196 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan24°17°69 mm
Feb23°17°55 mm
Mar23°16°66 mm
Apr21°14°59 mm
May20°12°48 mm
Jun19°11°61 mm
Jul18°10°60 mm
Aug18°9°57 mm
Sep18°11°89 mm
Oct20°13°68 mm
Nov20°14°76 mm
Dec22°16°65 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Otter Trail?

The Otter Trail is 36.6 km, and most hikers complete it in 5 days. Total elevation gain is 1844 m.

How difficult is the Otter Trail?

It rates Moderate on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 50 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 204 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the Otter Trail is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the Otter Trail?

In South Africa. The route starts near -34.011, 23.869 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.