Table Mountain NP
Maclear's Beacon
The plateau is fully exposed — cloud and wind can descend without warning and cause disorientation. Do not wander off marked paths in poor visibility. The cable car may close in high winds — always plan for a Platteklip Gorge descent as your backup.
Know before you go
The beacon is roughly 45 minutes' walk from the upper cable station along an undulating but non-technical path. One short chain-assisted descent section en route. The least-visited part of the summit plateau, offering solitude and a secret eastern viewpoint that most visitors miss entirely.
Rescue history
Plateau hikers occasionally lose the path in mist and wander toward cliff edges. The eastern end of the plateau (near the beacon) is less trafficked — carry sufficient water and a fully charged phone.
Good across the plateau.
Platteklip Gorge descent is the primary emergency exit from the plateau. Well signposted from the top of the gorge.
Upper Cableway Station (cable car required to reach the start; return via cable car or hike down Platteklip Gorge)