Before the holidaysMorgenhof and Muratie

Dirtopia's Blooming Trail Run, presented by Sportsmans Warehouse, sends the 11 km off at 08:00 and the 7 km at 08:15 on Sunday 29 November from Morgenhof Wine Estate — a low-bar way onto Stellenbosch singletrack before the holidays, with a longer winelands day two weeks later at Muratie.

At 08:00 on Sunday 29 November, the 11 km field leaves Morgenhof Wine Estate, on the R44 just outside Stellenbosch. The 7 km starts at 08:15. Registration opens at 07:15. Two short distances and a Sunday morning on a wine estate: this is about as easy a way onto the trails as the year-end gets.

Two distances

11 km: starts Morgenhof 08:00. Pre-entry R230; under-18s R75 in advance.
7 km: starts Morgenhof 08:15. Pre-entry R190; under-18s R75 in advance.

Online pre-entries close at midnight on Friday 27 November. Late entries are taken on the day at an additional fee, and the under-18 discount is for advance entries only. Enter through DirtPass or Entry Ninja. No dogs.

Timing is optional. Rent an Amarider Trail Tag for R25 or bring your own, but no tag means no time. Results are published on DirtPass, and results for late entries and entry changes are updated by Tuesday afternoon after the event.

Singletrack, climbs and Winelands views

The route runs on Dirtopia's hand-built singletrack, designed by Meurant Botha: uphill climbs, flowing descents, technical sections and open stretches, over forest paths, rocky terrain and grassy sections, with Winelands views throughout. "The climbs take some effort," the organiser says, "but the Winelands views and time out in nature make every step worthwhile."

The last time this was Morgenhof

The venue rotates. Blooming was at Morgenhof in 2023, at L'Avenir in 2024 (6 km and 11 km) and at Knorhoek in 2025. This year's edition comes back to Morgenhof.

The last Morgenhof times come from that 2023 morning, on that course. Christo Vermeulen won the 7 km in 0:28:39, with Shannah Brown first woman in 0:35:20. On the 11 km, Jason Bruiners won in 0:44:35, and Scharlize Crafford was first woman in 0:52:45. The L'Avenir and Knorhoek editions were on other estates, so they're no guide to Sunday's route.

Two weeks later, Muratie

If a short Sunday is the way in, Dirtopia's Muratie Trails Marathon is the natural next step for anyone who wants a longer winelands day. It takes place on 12 and 13 December at the Dirtopia Trail Centre on Muratie Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, on the south-western slopes of Simonsberg. Muratie is one of South Africa's oldest wine farms.

Saturday 12 December is the trail-running day. Registration opens at 07:00.

21 km: starts 07:30, mostly singletrack, 750 m climbing. Runners carry their own hydration, with refreshments at 8.5 km and 14 km.
11 km: starts 07:45.
6 km: starts 08:00.

Entries are pre-entry only, with limited places and no on-the-day entries. Fees are R195 for the 6 km, R250 for the 11 km and R395 for the 21 km, through DirtPass or Entry Ninja. Sunday 13 December is the mountain-bike day: a 42 km with 27 km of singletrack and 1,600 m of elevation gain, analogue bikes at 07:30 and e-bikes at 09:30.

The singletrack was laid by the late Meurant Botha, and the event raises funds for the trail network's upkeep. Same trail builder, a longer day, two weeks after Morgenhof.

Enter Blooming before midnight on Friday 27 November, or take a late entry on the day. That's the easy way onto the trails: 08:00 and 08:15 at Morgenhof, and a clear next date at Muratie if you want more.