Paddling near Bethlehem, Free State

Bethlehem sits in the northeastern Free State, in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, where the surrounding highveld plateau is cut by several rivers and punctuated by dams. Loch Athlone, just 2 km from town, is the most accessible flatwater paddling spot, while the Liebenbergsvlei River runs close by. The broader Free State paddling scene spans flatwater dams, seasonal rivers, and white-water sections — with Clarens and the Ash River among the better-known destinations in this corner of the province.