There’s no other reason why Singapore is known to be the Garden City. Despite being a small red dot on the world map, we have numerous parks, nature reserves, and even hiking trails for you to unleash the adventurer inside you.
Whether you’re looking to get yourself all dirty through the swampy wetlands, or just planning to get away from the hustle and bustle of the urban landscape through a simple walking trail, hiking in Singapore has much to offer for all regardless of your experience levels!
READ MORE: Planning a trip to Singapore? Here are some of the best places to visit.
Let’s hike right over to 5 of what we think are the top hiking trails in Singapore:
- MacRitchie Reservoir Park
- Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
- Clementi Forest
- Kranji Marshes
- Coast-to-Coast Trail
MacRitchie Reservoir Park – for the Instagram-worthy views
MacRitchie Reservoir Park is known to be one of the most popular hiking trails in Singapore, and with the beautiful scenery that the park has to offer, there’s your reason for why it is known to be such.
Take the TreeTop Walk when you are here, it is an aerial walkway that provides you with a bird’s eye view of the entire forest and its canopy. You could even have the opportunity to see flying lemurs and long-tailed macaques up close and personal while hiking and walking on the suspension bridge!
After closing for more than a year due to maintenance works, the TreeTop Walk reopened in late December 2021, and that is definitely your sign to go on this hike in Singapore to check out the Instagram-worthy views that MacRitchie Reservoir Park prides itself on!
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve – Singapore’s highest peak
Get the exercise you’ve been promising your body you’d get as you make your way to the top of Singapore’s highest natural peak.
At a height of 163 metres, Bukit Timah Hill is considered quite a trek for many people, and sometimes you’ll even witness people giving up halfway as they walk up the steep path to the summit.
However, be mesmerized by the flora and fauna as you hike your way up to the summit, and be ready to snap a picture with the rock that indicates that you’ve reached the top and you’ve succeeded in completing your hiking trail in Singapore!
Clementi Forest – to explore the undiscovered
If you are up for getting all muddy and exploring the less travelled paths, then Clementi Forest is the perfect place to hike for you!
Head down to this forest for the Jurassic Park vibes, all you need to have is the appropriate hiking gear in order to get you through the steep or slippery parts of the trail. Adventurers can also mark their own paths across the mud as there aren’t any official trails for now!
However, good news for those who may want to come back to the Clementi Forest after their first time, there are plans for two nature trails to run through the area from 2023 onwards, so get started on planning your hiking trail through this beautiful Singaporean forest.
Kranji Marshes – for the wildlife enthusiasts
Kranji Marshes is one of the best places for wildlife enthusiasts who are also on the hunt for a good hiking trail to embark on. It is home to over 170 species of birds, 54 species of butterflies, and 33 species of dragonflies.
Throughout the year, you will get the chance to observe woodpeckers, monitor lizards, and even White-bellied Sea Eagles perched on one of the tall trees. During the raptor migratory season, which often lasts from November to March, you can look out for visiting species like the Black Baza and Japanese Sparrowhawk from the top of Raptor Tower.
Home to a broad range of aquatic plants, insects, fishes, and birds, Kranji Marshes is a great place to plan a hiking trail and unleash your inner wildlife enthusiast as you go along one of the largest freshwater marshes in Singapore.
Coast-to-Coast Trail – for the most adventurous of hikers
Last but certainly not least, we have the trail for the most adventurous of hikers – you have been warned! This hiking trail is not for the easily fatigued or the faint-hearted!
The Coast-to-Coast Trail, otherwise known as the C2C Trail, spans 36km across Singapore, as it begins from the West side of the country – Jurong Lake Gardens – to the Northeast part of the country – Coney Island Park. You do not have to complete everything in one go as the route cuts across multiple parks and park connectors, but it is an amazing adventure for those seeking a hiking challenge.
As it is a very long stretch across Singapore, there is definitely a lot to do across the 10 checkpoints with its various wildlife viewing spots. A piece of advice for those who want to embark on this hiking challenge? Always check the weather before you begin. You do not want to take on this hiking trail while it’s blazing hot throughout the whole day!
How to decide where to go hiking in Singapore?
The best hiking trail depends on what you are looking for in a hiking trail, and it also depends very much on your personal experience when it comes to hiking. Fret not, there are plenty of options all over Singapore for you to explore, but we have shared 5 of what we think are the top hiking trails in the country.
If you are a newbie to hiking, then we would definitely recommend trying something easy before you decide on taking on challenges like the C2C Trail. Otherwise, get down and dirty in Kranji Marshes or visit the undiscovered areas of Clementi Forest!
Let us know what your favourite hiking trails in Singapore are and perhaps, we will review them again in the future?
