Free State

Free State hiking is concentrated in the eastern highlands, where the Maluti foothills, the Rooiberge and the Golden Gate sandstone country meet the Lesotho border. Trails range from short circular day walks to multi-day routes through highland grassland and sandstone terrain, with significant altitude change in the east and more open, flat walking further west.

For a regional overview, see Discover Free State. For the reserves where these trails are found, see Free State Reserves.

The Free State's reserves are dominated by its eastern Highland landscape. Golden Gate Highlands National Park is the best-known, protecting the Rooiberge sandstone formations and surrounding grassland. Provincial reserves and private conservancies extend this coverage into the Maluti foothills and along the Gariep Dam shoreline. SA Hikes lists 20 Free State reserves with access, landscape and hiking information for each.

For the hiking trails themselves, see Free State Hikes. For a regional overview, see Discover Free State.