When Hartspad is open
Hartspad's standard day-visitor hours are 08:00 to 13:00 every Saturday and Sunday. The Draaipunt Café follows the same public weekend hours. Hartspad's official website and its May 2026 social updates both repeat this schedule.
The official booking page says online day passes can provide longer access, while annual memberships advertise daylight access from 05:00 to 17:00 on the days included in the plan. Buy the correct pass and check its exact terms before arriving. Special events, rain, maintenance and year-end closures can change access, so confirm the specific weekend on Hartspad's website or WhatsApp before a long drive.
Choose the right trail
The four colour-coded loops are linked by a white connector route. The 6.3 km Yellow loop mixes hillside, riverfront, climbing, descending and rocky sections and carries a published technical rating of 3 out of 5. The 3.3 km Red loop uses trenches, forest, hillside and rocky ground and is the most technical at 5 out of 5.
The 3.7 km Blue loop combines trenches, forest and riverfront terrain at 4 out of 5. The 3.0 km Green loop is the gentlest option, using trenches, forest and countryside terrain with a 1 out of 5 rating. Hartspad describes the wider network as roughly 20 km of singletrack, so visitors can join loops for a longer outing.
Prices, passes and payment
Hartspad currently lists walk-in prices at Draaipunt Café of R20 per hiker or trail runner and R30 per mountain biker. Children under 13 and dogs enter free. The online booking page lists higher Trail Pass and MTB Trail Pass prices, currently R35 and R45 respectively, because online products and access terms differ from café ticket sales.
The site also advertises annual memberships: the weekend-focused FAN plan and the weekday-plus-weekend FAM plan. Membership prices and benefits can change, so use the live booking page as the source of truth. Cards are accepted, but Hartspad recommends carrying cash as a backup because mobile reception on the farm can be unreliable.
Café, families, dogs and facilities
The 117-hectare farm includes about 2 km of Mooi River frontage, wooded sections, open countryside and cattle. Draaipunt Café serves coffee, light snacks and beverages during normal weekend hours. The venue area includes braai spaces, picnic tables and seating, and can also be booked for functions.
Leashed dogs are welcome, and children under 13 may use the trails free when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Accommodation is available on the premises through De Oude Melkstal. Hartspad does not currently hire out mountain bikes or riding gear, so arrive with your own equipment.
Safety and trail rules
Mountain bikers must wear a helmet. The official rule is clear: no helmet, no ride. Routes are marked by colour and information maps are placed along the tracks rather than handed out individually. Keep to the marked trail, ride or run within your ability and give way responsibly on shared sections.
A basic emergency kit is available, but there are no on-site doctors on ordinary weekends. Hartspad permits trail use during daylight after the café closes when the visitor's pass allows it, but everyone must leave before dark. Bring water, sun protection, suitable shoes, a charged phone and any personal medication.
Getting there and contacting Hartspad
Hartspad is in the historic Oudedorp area, about 15 km north of Potchefstroom. The published navigation address is Welgegund Road, Boskop, Potchefstroom, 2520. Allow extra time for the final farm-road approach and use the official site or a live navigation app rather than relying on a screenshot of old directions.
The current Hartspad contact page directs visitors to WhatsApp on 060 447 1532. Some older page headers display a different number, so the contact-page WhatsApp link is the safest first option for trail conditions, bookings, functions and special requests.