Trails With Tales: Kloofrus Hiking Trail

When I asked if anyone else cared about the backstories of hiking trails, a whole 7 people raised their hands. That’s basically a focus group. Good enough. Buckle up—this is happening.

Trails With Tales is where I plan to dig into the quirks, history, and unexpected drama behind the trails I’ve walked.

Of course, not every trail makes the cut—only the ones that whisper sweet nothings to my soul You know...the ones that feel like a conversation with the land.

And of course, I’m not about to re-hike every single trail just to figure out which ones were “extra special.” Some trails just live in my head, and those are the ones I’ll use. But going forward, I’m hoping to dig up all sorts of intriguing info—history, legends, and probably at least one story that makes me wonder if I should’ve packed garlic instead of electrolytes.

Our first stop is Kloof Rus Hiking Trail—where the energy felt so good, I half suspect there’s magic in the soil. Also....I am low-key manifesting that Karen, the co-owner, lets me pitch a tent and stay forever. (Karen, if you’re reading this… I’m a very low-maintenance guest. I travel light and don’t take up much space.)

A Century of Louw Family Drama (But Without the Drama)

Tucked into the South African countryside, Kloof Rus Hiking Trail is where heritage collides with wide-open bliss.

Since 1917, the Louw family has run this farm.

Family tree incoming—try to keep up:

First, the land belonged to Matthys Petrus Louw Sr. (the original).

Then came his son, Matthys Petrus Louw Jr. (the sequel), who helped run the farm.

And finally, the land passed to—drumroll please—Jr.’s kids: Matthys Petrus Louw Jr… JR (not his official title, but how was that not on the birth certificate?) and his sister Karen (Louw) Byrne, who wisely escaped the Matthys rebrand cycle.

Fast forward through a century of farming, marriages, kids, and the general chaos of life—and the land is still 100% Louw-owned. Not a drop of outsider DNA in sight. If farms handed out pedigree certificates, Kloof Rus would be strutting around with a blue ribbon and a smug little grin.

From Shooting Range to Serenity

Before hikers roamed these hills, the farm moonlighted as a shooting range.

Thankfully, Karen and Matthys Jr....Jr. decided that disturbing the peace (and possibly the neighbours) wasn’t exactly sustainable. They silenced the guns, flung open the gates, and welcomed hikers (and their very spoiled pooches). And honestly? Love that for us.

Grazing, Stargazing, and the Dog-Friendly Factor

Today, the farm is mostly grazing land.

It also serves as prime stargazing territory—for those who actually remember to look up instead of down. I can only imagine how magical it must be. In fact… Karen, fair warning: I might travel light, but I’m 100% bringing a telescope.

Sure, it’s advertised as a “dog park,” but this isn’t a sad little patch of suburban grass with a bench and a trash can. This is a trail: sprawling, rustic, and gloriously wild. Your dog won’t just be off-leash; they’ll be living their best untamed fantasy

The Trail Today and Tomorrow

Turns out that “campsite” I spotted on the trail? (see https://hikinghag.wixsite.com/the-hiking-hag-1/post/kloof-rus-hiking-trail-the-dog-friendly-trail-where-humans-are-optional if you want to read my original post.) is actually becoming a campsite. Plans to build Rustic ablutions are already in place—But honestly, what's there already is not awful. I’ve endured far worse at official campsites and hiking trails.

Even better, plans include a farm stall.

Trail options right now: 1 km, 3 km, and 5 km. Plans are underway for 8 km and 12 km trails .

Heritage Without Scandal

Sorry, scandal-hunters: no feuds, no skeletons, no Netflix true-crime spin-offs lurking here. Just a century-old family farm that gracefully swapped gunfire for goats and became a hiking haven.

Kloof Rus Hiking Trail may not ooze drama, but it’s overflowing with heritage, rustic charm, and dog-approved freedom. Sometimes the best story isn’t scandal at all—it’s simply that the land endures, and it’s a joy to walk through.