Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Spent a fantastic evening at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve today. The trails offer a wonderful immersion into nature, and I was so impressed by how well-preserved and accessible it is. It really speaks volumes about the government's foresight and empathy in providing such a beautiful green lung for its citizens and a safe haven for local wildlife. A must-visit for anyone in Singapore!

A superb place for a short walk. Short but challenging as the initial climb up can be very steep. After the steep uphill slope climb, next challenge will be steps climb. The steps climb is also extremely challenging. Good thing the weather was good with slight drizzle. Ample parking place so no worries to parking your car there. Can easier complete the hill walk within 1 hour or so.

I always enjoy coming here for a workout, especially early in the morning for fresh air. It's great for training for upcoming hikes overseas. Bring walking poles along to help with the challenging terrain.

A lovely shaded trail that is great for training for overseas hikes. It doesn't matter if you're here in the middle of the afternoon – the trees provide ample shade that you need not worry about the sun (although the humidity would be a constant). The trail comes to life especially on a Saturday morning, with people usually coming for a leisurely walk up and down. It's become a weekly staple for us, and hiking up and down makes for a good social activity to bring people together.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a refreshing green getaway right in the heart of the city. The trails are well-marked, and the forest is dense and full of life, you really feel immersed in nature. At the entrance, we encountered a gang of monkeys just hanging out. It was a bit surprising at first, but they didn’t bother anyone. I think they’re used to people walking by, as they kept their distance and didn’t seem aggressive at all. Still, best to avoid holding food in the open! The hike up can be challenging, especially the stairs, but it’s rewarding. The view from the summit isn’t panoramic, but knowing you’re at the highest natural point in Singapore is still a fun accomplishment. Definitely a must-visit for nature lovers or anyone looking to get some fresh air and movement.

Went to the summit mid morning. Vegetation cover made it less hot. A bit crowded but not too much. All paved till the summit but can appreciate the forest and the fauna (monkeys,big lizards)

Beautiful walk with so much to see along the various routes! Absolutely loved my walk through here. Lots of stairs and uphill so be prepared to sweat. Definitely recommend decent walking shoes. We saw wild pigs/boars, monkeys, birds, squirrels and monitor lizards. Great place to explore!

It's the highest hill in Singapore. Many people exercise in the morning. Some people even run to the summit of the hill. There are many courses, so it's want to experience them all. It was a pity that there was no observation deck where you could see the wide open view. You can easily meet monkeys. It feels like i am in nature.

This a very beautiful nature reserve right in the heart of Singapore. Come here any time that they are open and you will find a lot of people walking the trails. There is one warning I must give anyone who comes here, however. The main walkway and the various trails around this park move upwards. Meaning, if you plan to walk around here, you are going to get a workout. So, wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes. The main trail of this park is a paved walkway. This is where you will find most of the people who come here. It can become a bit crowded. But, never so much as to not be a fun walk/workout. Though the main trail is nice, my suggestion is, once you get up to one of the various summits, go off onto one of the lessor trials. Then, you can really experience the beauty of this reserve. The trails here are well-marked and well-maintained so you don't have to worry about getting lost or anything like that. Overall, this is a great place to get a workout, meet some of the locals who enjoy a workout, or just touch some of the nature of Singapore.

Wow! What a hike! This place is nestled right in the heart of a neighborhood that you walk through to get to, so you would never know it was here. It's a hidden jungle, uphill all the way. I wanted to just collapse half way up, so no, I didn't make it all the way to the top. And hiking half way up is really enough cardio for anyone, especially since I was dressed in my street clothes, while the locals around me were getting their routine workout. You are literally hiking in the jungle, which is pretty cool when you stop and think about it. Unfortunately, I didn't run into any monkeys.

A fun thing to do when you want an activity to get your heart rate up a bit. The hike to the top requires a person to climb a steep (very steep!) hill and about 10 flights of steep stone stairs. It is not the most difficult thing that I have ever done but it is quite strenuous, especially in the heat of Singapore. As others have said, there are a bunch of cute monkeys playing on the trail but beware, they don't like people to get too close. I saw one go bananas when a teenage girl tried to move in for a close up... As others have said, there really isn't much to see at the top but there are a few trails to explore at the summit. Budget 90 minutes of time for the ascent, quick exploration and descent.

We saw a lot of monkeys, some flying squirrels and yes even a snake! It is just a series of paved trails through the jungle, plenty of differing difficulty levels, lots of uphill stairs. Free! I wouldn't recommend passing this up, experience the Singapore jungle. Quite a steep hike to the top but well worth it and possible by all ages. We saw the monkeys on the dairy path.

came here recently only to find out that part of the park is closed for trail repairs. "public access to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) will be limited for about two years, with effect from 15 September 2014 as NParks carries out repair and restoration works to the slopes, trails and forests in the reserve." Summit is accessible only on weekends from 7am to 6pm (last entry 5pm). "The Reserve will remain closed on weekdays and public holidays that do not fall on weekends." More details can be found here https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/bukit-timah-nature-reserve

Within easy reach of the city, you can get to this beautiful spot with the 171 bus, but careful: not all busdrivers speak English, so a map where landmarks are also in Chinese may come in handy (my busdriver first took me to Yashin, the end station). Walk up to the visitor centre, about 200 m from Bukit Timah Road, and have a look around: there is a very informative display that makes you familiar with the plants and animals in the reserve. You can also buy a small guide in the shop across from the centre. Do not take the main road: it is a very steep climb, and not that rewarding as many tourists take it. Turn e.g. off on the first trail on your right and follow all the way to the South View hut. When you are quiet (and no loud tourists are around), you may get lucky and spot a few animals (I saw two squirrels, a changeable lizard and of course the inevitable monkeys). Be also on the lookout for seeds, flowers and birds. The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is also the entryway to the reserves surrounding the water reservoirs of Singapore, and you can easily make a dayhike out of it. Remember to bring water!

This place is fantastic! We wanted to go on a nice little hike - and this reserve helps you see what all of Singapore was like before the concrete miracle was created: all jungle. The boldness of the monkeys makes US squirrels seem downright timid. If you hike up to the reservoir, you can get a nice peek-a-boo view. Also, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is connected to the MacRitchie Reservoir Trail which includes the wonderful Tree Top Walk - all wonderful for both kids and adults. Bring water and snacks, plan to spend a day here, and have fun getting lost in nature in the middle of Singapore.