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We LOVE the outdoors, and experiencing new hikes is one of our favourite things to do when travelling. This past year has given us a lot more time to explore Singapore and we have to say, some of these hikes are truly gems right in our backyard.

This page features all the fun hikes we’ve explored in Singapore — there are currently 23 hikes — if you love hiking, bookmark this page for more updates!

How many of these hikes in Singapore have you completed?

The map above shows hikes in Singapore grouped into three categories:

Green — Chill hikes that aren’t strenuous but offer a good dose of nature and Instagrammable photo spots.

Red — Challenging hikes that include steep inclines and a fair amount of steps. Look for these if you’re looking for a good sweaty session.

Yellow — Adventurous hikes (our favourite), where the path isn’t always clearly paved, but that’s where the fun is at. Highly recommended to go with someone experienced if you’re new to hikes!

For a more detailed guide on each hike, check out the links below!

BUKIT BATOK NATURE PARK

Bukit Batok Nature Park Quarry - Hiking in Singapore

Formerly a site for mining granite, Bukit Batok Nature Park features a stunning quarry pond. The park isn’t huge, but the route is scenic.

This park also includes a Japanese World War II memorial. It has since been destroyed, and now the Mediacorp Transmission Centre marks where it once stood. All that’s left are the 120 steps and two short pillars at the base.

Distance: 3.2km
Recommended time: 1.5hrs
Difficulty: 2/5

BUKIT TIMAH NATURE PARK

Bren at Bukit Timah Summit - Dairy Farm Nature Park

Standing at 163m tall, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is where you’ll find Singapore’s highest hill. It’s also one of the first forest reserves in Singapore.

This tropical rainforest has rich flora and fauna, from Plantain Squirrels to rare Malayan Pangolins. A trip to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is often combined with Dairy Farm Nature Park, as the two parks sit side by side.

Distance: ~3.6km
Recommended time: 1.5hrs
Difficulty: 3/5

CHESTNUT NATURE PARK

Man Hiking Trail - Chestnut Nature Park

Chestnut Nature Park is part of the network of parks surrounding the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. After an expansion in 2016, it’s now Singapore’s largest nature park.

The Northern Trail (3.5km) features gentle terrain and the Chestnut Observation Tower. The Southern Trail (2.1km) is a little tougher, with steeper inclines and rockier paths. Another unique feature of this park is its 11 mountain biking trails.

Distance: 5.6km
Recommended time: 2hrs
Difficulty: 2/5

CLEMENTI FOREST

Log on route of Clementi Forest Hike in Singapore

Of all the hiking trails in Singapore, Clementi Forest is arguably the most unique. It’s a piece of land that’s relatively untouched, with no marked trails — a rare gem in our urban city.

There’re plans to redevelop Clementi Forest and two nature trails will be added by 2023, to make the place more accessible to the public. But if you want to experience the raw, rugged Clementi Forest, do check it out soon!

Distance: ~2km
Recommended time:
1.5hrs
Difficulty:
4/5

COAST TO COAST TRAIL

Jurong Lake Gardens Forest Ramble - Things to do in Singapore

The Coast to Coast trail is no walk in the park. It’s more of a 36km trudge across the island, through numerous park connectors. By the 25km mark, you’ll notice someone hijacked your hiking party without an invitation — that someone is called Pain.

But trust us, it’s a hike worth trying at least once. There are 10 checkpoints, starting from Jurong Lake Gardens and ending at either Lower Seletar Reservoir Park or Coney Island. You’ll walk through new neighbourhoods, and solidify friendships with each checkpoint you conquer.

Distance: 36km
Recommended time: One full day
Difficulty: 5/5

CONEY ISLAND

Coney Island Photo Spot - Singapore Road Trip

Coney Island is like Singapore’s own fairytale island. It’s relatively secluded, tucked away in the North-eastern side of the mainland. The first thing you’ll notice is the tall, swaying casuarina trees which add to the park’s whimsical charm.

There are a couple of beaches from which you can see Pulau Ubin and Malaysia. There are up to  80 different species of birds often spotted here. Just be careful of the sneaky monkeys who will steal your food and drinks. To make your journey worth it, combine this hike with a trip to Punggol Waterway Park.

Distance: ~5km
Recommended time: 2hrs
Difficulty: 1/5

DAIRY FARM NATURE PARK

Singapore Quarry at Dairy Nature Farm in the morning - Dairy Farm Nature Park Hiking in Singapore

Formerly a cow shed, Dairy Farm Nature Park offers a more challenging trek up Bukit Timah Hill, via the Dairy Farm Loop. This hike takes you through dense forest, with lots of stairs to conquer along the way.

The crown jewel of this park though is the Dairy Farm Quarry, just a 15-minute walk from Dairy Farm Road Carpark A. Instead of being turned into a lake like most quarries in Singapore, it was filled with earth.

Distance: 6.5km
Recommended time: 2hrs
Difficulty: 3/5

FORT CANNING PARK

Fort Canning Park - Things to do in Singapore

Fort Canning Park’s nine unique gardens has features that are great for both nature lovers and wedding photographers. This park holds historical significance as the place where the British surrendered Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942.

Highlights here include the Sang Nila Utama Garden — named after the first ancient king of Singapore and inspired by 14th-century Javanese gardens. There’s also the First Botanic Garden, which dates back to 1822.

Distance: ~2km (Ancient History Trail)
Recommended time: 1hr
Difficulty: 2/5

HORT PARK

HortPark Silver Garden - Hiking Trails in Singapore
Photo credit: @sallyong32 via Instagram

HortPark is like a zen gardening complex, which aims to educate the public on gardening. Here you’ll find 10 themed gardens, each with its own unique personality. There’s the enchanting Silver Garden, dotted with silver, grey and white hued plants. And then there’s the Therapeutic Garden, which includes design elements specially targeted at the elderly.

If you’re interested in learning more about our city’s buzzing pollinators, take on the Bee Trail (~30min). Walk through three different bee habitats, where over 20 species of bees live!

Distance: ~1km
Recommended time: 1hr
Difficulty: 1/5

JURONG LAKE GARDENS

Jurong Lake Gardens Forest Ramble - Things to do in Singapore

Jurong Lake Gardens is a playground for any nature lover. It’s a massive 90-hectare park (for reference, the Singapore Zoo is just 26 hectares), so there’s loads to explore. Stroll along the lakeside Rasau Walk, snap pictures at the scenic Grasslands and unleash your inner child at Forest Ramble.

Singapore’s largest man-made floating wetlands at Jurong Lake also opened to the public in July 2021, where you can grab a picturesque view of the lake on an Instagrammable boardwalk. Keep a lookout for upcoming attractions as well, such as a water lily pond at Japanese Garden.

Distance:3.3km for the Banyan Trail (Grassland, Rasau Walk and Neram Streams)
Recommended time: 1.5hrs
Difficulty: 1/5

KEPPEL HILL RESERVOIR

Keppel Hill Reservoir Seah Im Bunker Entrance - Hiking Trails in Singapore

Keppel Hill Reservoir isn’t a long hike, but it’s a memorable one. For starters, the entrance is a literal hole in a fence, at a carpark near Harbourfront. You probably won’t even notice it if you weren’t looking.

Barely a minute into the hike, you’ll arrive at the Seah Im Bunker. It’s not huge, but cool nonetheless. After that, clamber up a steep incline (seen on the left) with the aid of some rope and you’ll be on route for the Keppel Hill Reservoir (two images above) and a Japanese tombstone.

Distance: ~1.5km
Recommended time: 1.5hrs
Difficulty: 3/5

KRANJI MARSHES

Kranji Marshes Raptor Tower - Hiking Trails in Singapore

Kranji Marshes is a paradise for birdwatching. It’s home to over 170 bird species and several lookout shelters to spot them from. The most obvious landmark here is the 10.65m tall Raptor Tower, which offers a panoramic view of the freshwater marshland.

Do note that only a small portion of the park is open to the public. If you want to visit the Core Conservation Area, sign up for a guided NParks tour!

Distance: ~2km
Recommended time: 1.5hr
Difficulty: 2/5

LABRADOR NATURE RESERVE

Bukit Chermin boardwalk - Labrador Park Guide

Labrador Nature Reserve is a park that’s rich in history and biodiversity. A former World War II fort built to defend Keppel Harbour in 1878, war relics like a machine gun post offers a glimpse into the past.

This park is home to over 70 bird species, the only rocky sea-cliff on the mainland and a series of coastal walks. For those keen on a longer hike, there’s also the 10km-long Southern Ridges trail which connects Labrador Nature Reserve with several other parks, including Mount Faber.

Distance: 2.1km
Recommended time: 1hr
Difficulty: 1/5

MACRITCHIE RESERVOIR PARK

Macritchie Treetop Walk- Outdoor activities Singapore

MacRitchie is the godfather of Singapore hikes. Everyone knows it, most have visited at least once. The highlight here is obviously, the TreeTop Walk — a 250m-long free-standing suspension bridge with a clear view of the forest canopy.

But TreeTop Walk aside, there’re six routes of varying distances. The longest being a 11km round-trip hike around the park. Other highlights here include the eight-storey Jelutong Tower and a boardwalk snaking along the reservoir.

Distance: 11km
Recommended time: 4hrs
Difficulty: 4/5

MOUNT FABER

Mount Faber viewpoint

Mount Faber Park is one of Singapore’s oldest parks, with stunning views of the city and the southern islands. It’s here you can take a cable car to Sentosa!

Enjoy the shade from dense rainforests and spot several species of birds that live here. This park is part of the Southern Ridges and you can easily access Henderson Waves — Singapore’s tallest pedestrian bridge.

Distance: 0.8km
Recommended time: 15min
Difficulty: 3/5

PASIR RIS PARK

Pasir Ris Park - Hiking Trails in Singapore
Photo credit: @johnnytan.jt via Instagram

Pasir Ris Park is one of the few parks with a beach. Fun fact: Pasir Ris actually means ‘beach bolt-rope’ in Malay, named after the park’s narrow beach! Besides palm trees and sandy shores, Pasir Ris Park also has a Mangrove Boardwalk that takes you up close to mudskippers and other creatures.

For birdwatching enthusiasts, head to the three-storey Bird Tower — a perfect vantage point to spot birds like the White Collared Kingfisher!

Distance: 10km
Recommended time: 3hrs
Difficulty: 1/5

PULAU UBIN

Hiking up Puaka Hill - Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is a rare slice of nature in our concrete jungle, just a 15-minute bumboat ride away. The main hiking spots are Puaka Hill and Chek Jawa Wetlands. Most get to these places via bicycle, but it’s possible to explore the island on foot as well.

Puaka Hill is the highest point on Pulau Ubin, 1.9km away from the main village. From the foot of the hill, it only takes 20 minutes to get to the top. On the east side of the island is Chek Jawa Wetlands, a rich mangrove area with a 1km boardwalk facing the ocean. Chek Jawa is 3km from the main village.

Distance: Varies
Recommended time: One full day
Difficulty: 2/5

RAIL CORRIDOR

Rail Corridor Drone Shot - Hiking in Singapore

The Coast to Coast trail (C2C trail) isn’t the only hike that’ll take you across the island. While the C2C trail takes you from West to East, the Rail Corridor stretches from South to North.

This route used to be a railway line for transporting goods between Singapore and Malaysia but was discontinued in 2011. The trail starts at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and ends at Woodlands Train Checkpoint.

Distance: 24km
Recommended time: Half a day
Difficulty: 4/5

SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

Botanic Gardens - Fun Things to do in Singapore

Singapore Botanic Gardens is the first and only tropical botanic garden to make it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. Most of this park is generally flat and so it’s perfect for picnics and chill walks.

2021 brings a couple of new reasons to visit — three new display houses at the National Orchid Garden were unveiled in April. The Sembcorp Cool House, which features Asia’s largest collection of high elevation montane orchids, has been likened to a mini Gardens by the Bay.

The already massive gardens also got an eight-hectare expansion. The new Gallop Extension features the COMO Adventure Grove, a beautiful play area inspired by nature.

Distance: 6.4km
Recommended time: 3hrs
Difficulty: 1/5

SOUTHERN RIDGES

Walking Down Henderson Waves at Southern Ridges - Singapore Travel Guide

The Southern Ridges is a 10km route across five parks — Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve.

The toughest part of the route is the start, as the Marang Trail involves ascending the height of a 24-storey building. Yes, lots of stairs.

After that, enjoy a relaxing stroll down the relatively flat Faber Walk and Henderson Waves. Other highlights include the elevated Forest Walk and The Singing Forest, where colourful birds are often spotted.

Distance: 10km
Recommended time: 4hrs (NParks detailed guide for the full route)
Difficulty: 3/5

SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE

Coastal Trail Sunrise at Eagle Point Boardwalk - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Guide

Fun fact: ‘Sungei Buloh’ means Bamboo River in Malay! The reserve got its name from the bamboos that once thrived here.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve offers a rich mix of wildlife and beautiful photo spots. Look out for the iconic Kingfisher Pod, seaside boardwalks where you can enjoy views of Malaysia, and wildlife hidden amongst the mangroves — mudskippers, snakes, kingfishers and the odd crocodile!

Distance: ~4.3km 
Recommended time:
3hrs
Difficulty: 
1/5

THOMSON NATURE PARK

Thomson Nature Park Hainan Village Ruins - Hiking Trails in Singapore

While it’s a relatively short and simple hike, Thomson Nature Park doesn’t follow your typical park blueprint. For starters, it’s the site of a former Hainan village. A walk down the Ruin and Figs Trail will have you channelling Indiana Jones, searching for hidden treasure while navigating ancient ruins.

You’ll spot several Macaques, but what you really hope to see is the critically endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur. There are just roughly 60 of these adorable monkeys left in Singapore, and Thomson Nature Park is one place to find them.

Distance: 3.8km
Recommended time: ~2hrs
Difficulty: 1/5

WINDSOR NATURE PARK

Drongo Trail Boardwalk - Windsor Nature Park

Windsor Nature Park is MacRitchie’s lesser-known younger cousin. Opened in 2017, it has four unique trails spread over 75 hectares and several freshwater streams running through it!

Trails here range from the wheelchair-friendly Hanguana Trail to the Squirrel and Drongo Trail which includes a 150m long elevated walkway — the highlight of the park!

Distance: 4.4km
Recommended time: 2hrs
Difficulty: 1/5

VIDEO GUIDES

Abandoned railway tracks, secret tunnels and crossings over muddy streams — a hike through Clementi Forest is unlike any other trail in Singapore.

Formerly a railway line used for transporting goods between Singapore and Malaysia, the Rail Corridor is now a scenic 24km hiking trail stretching from the north to south!