Hiking trails in Singapore for scenery, not selfies
Where to walk aside to Botanics and Macritchie to avoid the crowds
Text: Tiff H
Think Singapore: think urban bustle, concrete sprawl and towering skyscrapers? Think again. Our Little Red Dot is widely known as a Garden City and is filled with hiking trails and trekking opportunities thanks to the green spaces, parks and gardens occupying almost 47% of the land. While the Tree Top Walk at Macritchie Reservoir and Southern Ridges have become #InstaFamous, there’s a whole host of hiking trails that prioritise substance over spots for indulgent selfies. That’s not to say you won’t get some epic views along the way, but if you’re looking for a good sweat and picturesque scenery while trying to avoid ‘fitfluencers’, this list of hikes in Singapore is for you.
1. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Starting with a fairly easy option nestled in the North-Western tip of the city, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park, encompassing 202 hectares of mangroves, mudflats, forests and ponds. With several trails of varying difficulty, opt for the 2.3km Migratory Bird Trail or the 3.2km Sungei Buloh Coastal Trail for an easy hike. The 7.9km Kranji and Sungei Buloh loop is for those looking for something more challenging. Keep an eye out for mudskippers, crabs, shellfish, water snakes, birds, otters, herons and kingfishers along the way.
2. Puaka Hill
Puaka Hill is Pulau Ubin’s highest peak at 74m above sea level and is something of a glute-slayer. This hiking trail takes you to a summit overlooking the Balai Quarry via a steep, winding climb through thick growths and dense jungle, while the ascending trek — which is much easier — should only take about 20 minutes. This trail’s unmarked entrance and challenging nature means that it’s a rarely visited spot, so it’s ideal if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.
3. Chestnut Nature Park to Windsor Nature Park
This park-hopping route is one for hardcore hikers, taking you from the Northern Loop of Chestnut Nature Park to Windsor Nature Park, passing through Zhenghua Nature Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park and Hindhede Nature Park along the way. While the trails themselves aren’t too difficult, the length of the entire route (approximately 20km) means you’ll need comfortable hiking shoes, a decent stash of stamina, and perhaps a good podcast or two.
Another hidden Singapore gem, the Choo Choo Trek starts along the Green Corridor — the unused Jurong railway track which connects to defunct Bukit Timah railway track — and ventures from West Coast Food Centre to Old Bukit Timah railway station. This one’s not for the faint-hearted: expect dark tunnels, swamps, tall grass fields and ankle-deep mud.
