Where to Go Hiking in Singapore: Top Trails and Scenic Routes
Explore Singapore’s Most Beautiful Outdoor Spaces
Singapore’s top trails and scenic routes offer a captivating blend of lush rainforests, wildlife sightings, and rich cultural history. Elevated walkways, forest paths, and coastal trails invite outdoor enthusiasts to explore diverse ecosystems and picturesque overlooks. Whether you seek a family-friendly stroll, a half-day hike, or a rugged mountain bike trail, immersive outdoor experiences await.
During your outings, spot long-tailed macaques, colorful migratory birds, and shy mousedeer. Immerse your senses in the peacefulness of forest sounds such as gentle streams, bird songs, and breezes in the forest canopy. Discover wartime history and ancient palaces tucked into the landscape. Whether hiking or paddling, these nature parks and reserves promise unforgettable hiking experiences in Singapore.
1. MacRitchie Reservoir TreeTop Walk
Suspension bridge and kayak adventures
Good for: Adventure, Photo, Families
The MacRitchie Nature Trail and Reservoir Park is nestled within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, a haven for nature enthusiasts. The 250-meter-long TreeTop Walk suspension bridge connects 2 of the highest points in the reserve, offering panoramic views of the forest canopy. Enjoy a morning walk or rent a kayak for a serene paddle.
Breathe in the fresh air as you explore winding trails and boardwalks. Keep an eye out for colorful Dendrobium orchids blooming along the path and watch for long-tailed macaques and colugos (flying lemurs) moving across the forest canopy. If you’re a bird watcher, bring your binoculars as you can spot bird species from white-billed oriental pied hornbills and Brahminy kites to pink-necked green pigeons.
Location: Central Catchment Nature Reserve, 601 Island Club Rd (Located close to Singapore Island Country Club, Venus Dr, via, Singapore)
Open: Tuesday–Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 8.30 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
MacRitchie Reservoir TreeTop Walk
2. Kent Ridge Park
Native forest views and a historic battle site
Good for: History, Photo, Families
Embark on a hike in Kent Ridge Park’s 280-meter-long Canopy Walk or wander along wide paved trails shaded by mature native trees. The Kent Ridge and Dragonfly ponds offer quiet spots to unplug. As you hike, listen for the distinctive call of the Asian Koel or the vibrantly plumed kingfishers near the water’s edge.
Keep an eye out for common tree shrews darting beneath the dark forest undergrowth. For exercise enthusiasts, the park features several fitness stations. The ridge was the site of the Battle of Bukit Chandu, fought in February 1942 during WWII. Visit the on-site Reflections at Bukit Chandu museum to learn more about this historic battle site.
Location: Vigilante Dr, Singapore 118176
Open: 24/7
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Kent Ridge Park
3. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Tranquil strolls, mountain biking, and panoramic summit views
Good for: Adventure, Photo, Families
Established in 1883, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is Singapore’s oldest forest reserve and an ASEAN Heritage Park, known for its rich biodiversity. The reserve’s nature trails vary in difficulty, offering paved paths and forested routes for all skill levels.
Visitors can explore trails that lead to scenic overlooks, such as Hindhede Quarry and panoramic viewpoints from Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore’s highest point. The 6-km mountain bike trail is popular with experienced cyclists, with rugged terrain through dense rainforest. Keep an eye out for wildlife sightings such as colorful butterflies, the long-tailed macaque, the Malayan pangolin, and the greater racket-tailed Drongo.
Location: Hindhede Dr, Singapore 589318
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
4. Telok Blangah Hill Park
Singapore’s tallest pedestrian bridge and native trees
Good for: Photo, Couples, Families
Telok Blangah Hill Park offers nature enthusiasts several options to enjoy Singapore’s abundant flora and fauna. For a relaxed stroll, follow the elevated Forest Walk for sweeping views of the canopy, or tackle the more rugged Earth Trail. At the Terrace Garden, soak up 360° city views framed by vibrant flower beds.
Henderson Waves, Singapore’s tallest pedestrian bridge, features a unique wave-like design and is a favorite spot for photographers. Other highlights include an arboretum showcasing Singapore’s tallest native trees and the tranquil sounds of a meandering stream alongside the trail. Birdwatch at the Singing Forest and listen to the melodies of native bird species, including the white-throated kingfisher and the elusive lineated barbet.
Location: 10 Telok Blangah Green, Singapore 109178
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Telok Blangah Hill Park
5. Chek Jawa Wetlands
Coastal views and sea stars in a grassy lagoon
Good for: Adventure, Families, Couples
Embark on an awesome Singapore adventure at Chek Jawa Wetlands. On the eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, this stunning natural area is one of Singapore’s last rural islands and home to one of the nation’s richest and most diverse natural habitats. To get there, take a bumboat from the mainland to Pulau Ubin, then hike or cycle across the island.
Stroll on the Mangrove Boardwalk to spot fiddler crabs, mudskippers, and herons. Along the Coastal Boardwalk, look for sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and other marine life in the seagrass lagoon. Low tide offers the best opportunities for wildlife viewing. From Jejawi Tower, enjoy panoramic coastal views and look for playful otters in the seagrass and herons wading along the shoreline.
Location: Chek Jawa Trail, Singapore
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Phone: +65 6542 4108
Chek Jawa Wetlands
6. Labrador Nature Reserve
Birdwatching and maritime history
Good for: History, Families, Photo
Nature enthusiasts are drawn to the Coastal Trail at Labrador Nature Reserve for its picturesque coastal views. Hike along the 90-meter elevated boardwalk or take the 250-meter rustic path through diverse coastal habitats and shaded forest. Signs offer fascinating insights into the reserve’s rich biodiversity.
One of the park’s highlights is Dragon’s Teeth Gate, a replica of a natural granite outcrop that historically served as a navigational marker and coastal defense structure for mariners entering Keppel Harbour. Birdwatchers may spot the vibrant yellow Black-naped Orioles and Oriental Magpie Robins. Keep watch for plantain squirrels foraging on sea grapes, the reddish, sweet fruit of the sea grape tree.
Location: 91 Labrador Villa Rd, Singapore 119190
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Labrador Nature Reserve
7. Chestnut Nature Park
Family hiking trails and mountain biking
Good for: Adventure, Families
Chestnut Nature Park, one of Singapore’s largest nature parks, is nestled along the western edge of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Split into north and south sections, the park offers leisurely strolls, challenging hikes, and mountain biking adventures along well-marked trails.
For families, the Chestnut Park and Gangsa Hill Trail provides a short, relaxed walk, while the Granite Hill Log Bridge Loop is popular with hikers seeking a deeper immersion in nature, surrounded by the tranquil sound of streams, the melodies of native birdsongs, and breezes in the forest canopy. If you’re a mountain biker, pick one of the park’s 10 trails with varying difficulty levels for riders of all skill levels.
Location: Chestnut Ave, Singapore 679514
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Chestnut Nature Park
8. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Mangrove forests and ranger-led educational walks
Good for: Photo, Unusual
Pack your binoculars and head to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park. Spanning over 490 acres, the reserve features well-marked trails and boardwalks winding through mangrove forests, ponds, and intertidal habitats. While hiking in Singapore at this reserve, birdwatchers may spot the elusive Mangrove Pitta, with its green, blue, and chestnut plumage, purple herons, or orange-billed black-capped kingfishers near the water’s edge.
Birdwatch from an observation hide, designed to blend into the environment, and keep watch for Malayan water monitors sunning themselves along the trails. At the Visitor Center, enjoy family-friendly interactive exhibits or sign up for a ranger-led educational walk to learn about the reserve’s ecosystems and rich biodiversity.
Location: 301 Neo Tiew Cres, Singapore 718925
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Phone: +65 6794 1401
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
9. Thomson Nature Park
Village ruins and a wildlife refuge
Good for: History, Photo
Thomson Nature Park, an important cultural heritage site, invites visitors to explore the ruins of a former Hainanese village. It was once home to Hainanese and other immigrants from the 1930s to the 1980s. Signs along the trails share stories of the villagers, their farms, and plantations.
The park is also a refuge for wildlife. Look upward into the tree canopy to spot long-tailed macaques and the elusive banded leaf monkeys feeding on fruit in the canopy. On the forest floor, watch for the shy lesser mousedeer foraging on leaves, shoots, and fruit. Listen for the call of the Coppersmith Barbet, a native bird marked by its bright crimson forehead.
Location: Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Thomson Nature Park
10. Fort Canning Park
Ruins of a 14th century palace and historic gardens
Good for: History, Photo
Delve into history at Fort Canning Park, once the site of a 14th-century palace for the Malay kings of Singapura. Later transformed into a British fortress named after Governor-General Lord Charles Canning, visitors can explore centuries of history at this scenic park.
Begin at the Forbidden Spring, a former bathing place for royal women. A mural wall depicts scenes of ancient daily life. Nearby, the Artisan’s Garden reveals archaeological remains of a palace craftsman’s quarters. Take a break beneath the shade of a towering rain tree before exploring Singapore’s first botanical garden, established in 1822 to grow nutmeg and clove for the spice trade, as well as other tropical plants like mango, ginger, banana, and pineapple.
Open: 24/7
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Fort Canning Park
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