12 best hiking trails in Singapore for nature-lovers
Singapore is not known for being a hiker’s paradise due to its lack of elevated terrain. Nevertheless, there are several hiking trails in Singapore for nature lovers to explore, albeit shorter and not at altitude.
Check out our list of the 12 best hiking trails in Singapore for the perfect hiking trip.
1. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
If you like hiking mountains, your best bet is the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The hiking trail in Singapore is home to Singapore’s highest point, the Bukit Timah Hill (164m).
You will be able to pick from 4 hiking trails. Only routes 1, 3, and 4 lead to the hill summit.
Moderate, 1.2km: This is the most direct route to the summit, via the main road.
Moderate, 0.8km: This is a path to the Telecomm Tower via the main road.
Difficult, 1.8km: This is a longer route via the South View Path and Cave Path.
Difficult, 3km: Same path as Route 1 with an extra Diary Farm loop after the summit.
If you are new to hiking, opt for the 2.2km beginner-friendly Wallace Trail. The hiking trail in Singapore starts from the Dairy Farm Nature Park, located next to the nature reserve.
Hindhede Dr, Singapore 589318
1800 471 7300
Daily: 7am – 7pm
2. Thomson Nature Park
Thomson Nature Park is unique for its cultural heritage as a main conservation spot for the critically endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur and the site of a former Hainanese Village.
Part of the Central Nature Park Network, Thomson Nature Park has several trails that will take you deep into its secondary forest where you can learn about village life in the 1930s:
1. Ruins and Figs Trail (1.5km, Easy): The longest trail will take you to 9 sites that were once part of the Hainan Village. The conserved ruins showcase building foundations, walls, wells, staircases and the old road network.
2. Streams and Ferns Trail (1.4km, Easy) Intersecting with the Ruins & Figs Trail along multiple points, this route features the park’s greenery and freshwater habitat with a walk that will take you past shrubs, ferns and trees and under a natural bower. Just a word of caution: parts of the trail are uneven due to rocky paths or overgrown roots.
3. Rambutan Trail (400m, Easy): Perfect for beginners, this short, standalone trek circles around the site of a rambutan plantation cultivated in the 1930s.
4. Langur Trail (150m, Easy): If you want to catch a rare glimpse of the endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur, opt for this hiking trail. Named after the creature, the short boardwalk trail, which serves as the entrance to Thomson Nature Park, has a small lookout deck to spot the Banded Langur. Keep an eye out for its black-and-white face.
Upper Thomson Rd
1800 471 7300
Daily: 7am – 7pm
3. Fort Canning Park
If you are a history buff and stay near the Central District, there’s no better hiking trail in Singapore for you than Fort Canning Park. Here, you will be able to learn more about Singapore’s ancient and colonial history through exhibits and artefacts found in the park.
Take a while to pause and admire the biodiversity on this hill through 2 self-guided tours:
Spice Garden Trail (Moderate, 1km): Arouse your senses in the aromatic Spice Garden. Connect with nature as you observe how common kitchen herbs and spices look in plant form. You will learn how to identify over 25 spices from the 180 varieties in the garden.
Trees of the Fort Trail (Easy, 2 km): Bask in the beauty and majesty of trees by going on this hiking trail in Singapore. The trail will introduce you to 25 glorious trees in Fort Canning Park. These include the Kapok, which stands out due to its sheer size and thorny bark and the Malayan Banyan with its aerial roots hanging down. You’ll also get to spot 6 of the 262 heritage trees under Singapore’s Heritage Tree Scheme on this trail.
River Valley Rd, Singapore 179038
1800 471 7300
Daily: 24 hours
4. Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is one of the largest urban parks in central Singapore, covering a full 62 hectares of unique waterways and greenery. Under PUB’s Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters programme, the former concrete canal has been deconcretised and naturalised. Today, it is a gorgeous, meandering 3km river with lush banks of wildflowers.
You’ll be able to catch a sight of the river through the 2-hour, 6km hiking trail designed for beginners. You’ll also get to enjoy the picturesque bird’s eye-view scenery of the park from the peak of Recycle Hill and stroll along a 300m tract of lofty Khaya and Cannonball trees.
1384 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
Daily: 24 hours
5. Macritchie Reservoir
If you want to hike around a body of water, there’s no better hiking trail in Singapore for you than Macritchie Reservoir. Completed in 1968, the reservoir is Singapore’s oldest.
Get up close with nature in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve through the MacRitchie trails. This 20km network of trails and boardwalks winds through over 2,000 hectares of forest around the MacRitchie Reservoir. It has 5 trails for various ages and fitness levels:
3km, Easy: This route covers the boardwalks along the Prunus Trail and Petai Trail.
4.8km, Easy: Walk along the water’s edge on the boardwalks of Chemperai Boardwalk and Jering Boardwalk before returning to MacRitchie Reservoir Park via Lornie Trail.
10.3km, Moderate to Difficult: Explore the TreeTop Walk with this looping trail that brings you back to your starting point at MacRitchie Reservoir.
11km, Moderate: Circle the nature reserve with this path that passes the Jelutong Tower instead of the TreeTop Walk.
9.5km, Difficult: Starts with the same path as Route 3, but continues onto Sime Track which leads you to Rifle Range Road instead of looping back to where you began.
Lornie Rd, Singapore 298735
Daily: 7am – 7pm
6. Rail Corridor
If you are looking for a hiking trail in Singapore where you can see wildlife in motion, your best bet in Singapore is the continuous Rail Corridor. The Rail Corridor is a passage that facilitates wildlife movement between green spaces. It also acts as a recreational corridor.
While it is possible to enter the Rail Corridor from many access points, hikers are advised to enter from Kranji, Hillview or Buona Vista MRT Station for convenience. The 24km Rail Corridor is divided into 3 main sections: North (10km), Central (4km) and South (10km).
At half the length of Singapore, it will take approximately 5 hours to finish the trail on foot.
Must-stops along the hiking trail in Singapore include the old Bukit Timah Railway Station, which has been repurposed into a heritage gallery and the Rail Mall, a prominent retail strip with cafes and restaurants. The Rail Mall is also home to Springleaf Prata Place. It is known for its delicious prata that comes in various flavours, such as salted egg prawn and alfredo.
Upper Bukit Timah Rd, #380 Fuyong Estate, Singapore 678040 (Rail Mall)
+65 6542 7788
Daily: 24 hours
7. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is Singapore’s first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Park, a protected park with unique biodiversity and ecosystems.
Rich in mangroves, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a stopover point for migratory birds. Select from one of the following hiking trails that best suits your fitness level and interest:
Migratory Bird Trail (1.95km, Easy): Home to bird hides and shelter, you will be able to see resident birds such as herons, kingfishers, sunbirds and other migratory birds.
Mangrove Boardwalk (500m or 3km, Easy): A walk that introduces you to mangroves and brings you close to wildlife. Look out for mudskippers, spiders, crabs and more.
Coastal Trail (1.3km, Easy): Explore the various habitats from freshwater ponds to mudflats and mangroves. Learn about the flora and fauna that reside in these areas.
Forest Trail (300m, Easy): Meant for all ages, this trail leads to the Mid-Canopy Trail.
Mid-Canopy Trail (150m, Easy): This boardwalk trail allows you to immerse yourself understory of a secondary forest, where you can spot birds such as the Pied Fantail.
If you have kids, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve also has trails suitable for little ones:
Junior Wetland: This rehabilitated freshwater pond houses many plants and animals and is a perfect spot to observe dragonflies, fishes and the White-breasted Waterhen.
Junior Adventure Trail: Young visitors can experience what it is like to be a crab or mudskipper in the mangroves by ducking under structures similar to mangrove roots.
Children below the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult while exploring the trails.
301 Neo Tiew Cres, Singapore 718925
+65 6794 1401
Daily: 7am – 7pm
8. Labrador Nature Reserve
If you like visiting nature reserves, also visit Labrador Nature Reserve. It is a thriving natural habitat with a scenic view of the sea, situated at the border of a secondary forest.
Walk to Singapore’s only rocky sea cliff on the mainland and enjoy the brilliant view of Singapore’s offshore islands from the lookout deck. The hiking trail in Singapore will lead you down the cliff and into the 10-hectare park which lies adjacent to the nature reserve.
If you are a military history nerd, follow the landmarks with interpretative signages. The signs depict the drastic transformation of Labrador Nature Reserve from an underground ammunition storeroom to a tranquil nature reserve today that houses World War 2 relics.
91 Labrador Villa Rd, Singapore 119190
Daily: 7am – 7pm
9. Southern Ridges
A seamless vastness of open green spaces, the Southern Ridges is a 10km hiking trail in Singapore that promises a picturesque outdoor experience in the southwest of Singapore.
From the striking bridges to walkways, enjoy the lovely view of the leafy vegetation in the parks and nature reserve that make up the Southern Ridges – the lush hills of Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill and Kent Ridge, and the rich flora and fauna of Labrador Nature Reserve.
If you are a garden enthusiast, make sure to drop by the HortPark. The one-stop gardening resource hub within the Southern Ridges promotes horticultural and landscaping initiatives.
1800 471 7300
Daily: 24 hours
10. Coast-to-Coast Trail
If you prefer longer outdoor walks, give the Coast-to-Coast Trail (Central) a go instead.
It is a 36km hiking trail in Singapore that stretches across the whole island, connecting nature areas, parks and park connectors from Jurong Lake Gardens in the West, the new Lornie Nature Corridor near the centre, and the rustic Coney Island Park in the Northeast.
Must-stop attractions along the hiking trail in Singapore include Forest Ramble (Jurong Lake Gardens), a nature-themed play area that has varied adventure experiences for children to mimic the actions of wildlife. Famished after hiking? Drop by the Adam Road Food Centre at Adam Road. Order their famous nasi lemak, mee rebus and prawn noodles.
Opening hours differ based on point of interest
11. Singapore Botanic Gardens
The first and sole tropical botanic garden on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the 165-year-old Singapore Botanic Gardens sits on the edge of the Orchard Road shopping district.
This makes the hiking trail in Singapore one of the most convenient places to visit. What also makes the gardens visit-worthy is that they are home to one of Singapore’s oldest remnants of primary rainforests, which you can explore on the well-shaded Rainforest Trail.
The Botanic Gardens’ 6.2-hectare Rain Forest is a national treasure not only for its thriving biodiversity but also because it is part of the original Botanic Gardens that opened in 1859. More than 80 percent of the 314 species of plants in the rainforest are rare or endangered.
This is a boardwalk trail and makes for easy walking. Look out for the signs pointing you to wheelchair-accessible paths. It is also suitable for families with young children and seniors.
1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569
+65 6471 7138
Daily: 5am – 12am
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12. Pulau Ubin
Offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Tree Trail provides an off-the-beaten-track experience across Pulau Ubin, an island off Singapore’s northeastern coast.
The trail starts from the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub and brings you to coconut and rubber plantations, the house of the late village head of Pulau Ubin and several interesting trees.
The hiking trail in Singapore ends at the jetty outside the Chek Jawa Visitor Centre (House No. 1), a quaint Tudor-style cottage preserved and designated as a Conservation Building.
Once you are done for the day, linger at the jetty for a glimpse of Pulau Sekudu (the Frog Island). Here, take in scenic sights of the ocean, with the sea breeze kissing your cheeks.
61 Pulau Ubin, Singapore 508310
+65 6542 4108
6am – 7pm
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