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  1 / 10 Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

  The favourite training ground for hikers and mountaineers is the tallest natural hill in Singapore at 163.63 metres. Following a two-year restoration, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has reopened to the public. The entire summit trail is a mere 1.2km in length, but with a steep slope at the beginning and a 200m flight of steps at the end, it may be more challenging than perceived. To allow for more time to take in the unique flora and fauna, choose one of the more meandering trails to the top.

  (Also read: Here’s Why You Should Start Hiking)

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

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  2 / 10 The Southern Ridges

  The Southern Ridges is a 10km route that encompasses three parks and one nature reserve – Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill, Kent Ridge, and Labrador Nature Reserve. Trek along the verdant route to discover architecturally-impressive bridges such as the Alexandra Arch and Henderson Waves, an elevated walkway known as the Forest Walk, and pieces of history such as the six-inch cannon from Singapore’s colonial past.

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

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  3 / 10 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

  The 202ha ASEAN Heritage Park comprising mangrove swamps, mudflats, forests and tidal ponds, teems with rich biodiversity that you can spot while journeying through three trails: coastal (1.3km), forest (300m) and migratory bird (2km).

  Count yourself lucky if you see the Estuarine crocodiles in the waters. If not, look out for resident birds and native inhabitants like herons, kingfishers, mudskippers, water snakes and monitor lizards. For a chance to see diverse flocks of shorebirds or waders including plovers and sandpipers, plan your hikes during the migratory season from September to March.

  (Also read: 5 Best Hiking Shoes For Women)

  Photo: Peh Yi Wen

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  4 / 10 Windsor Nature Park

  Located off Venus Drive at Upper Thomson, the 75ha Windsor Nature Park features freshwater streams, a marsh habitat and offers three easy boardwalk trails. Part of the 2.2km Squirrel and Drongo Trails include a 150m-long treetop walk that lets you trek through fauna found at the canopy level some four metres high. For families with strollers in tow, the flat 350m Hanguana Trail lined with rare native plants is your safest option.

  (Also read: What to Do When You Encounter Monkeys in Nature Parks)

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

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  5 / 10 TreeTop Walk

  This 6km trail in MacRitchie is riddled with steep slopes and an undulating terrain, plus numerous flights of stairs on the route down. But standing above the forest canopy – on the 250m-long suspension bridge that was built between the two highest points in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve – and delighting in a bird’s-eye view of the area is certainly worth it. Note that the TreeTop Walk closes at 5pm everyday and on Mondays (except public holidays).

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

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  6 / 10 Pulau Ubin

  Escape the city and head towards Pulau Ubin to explore Chek Jawa Wetlands and the 74m-high Puaka Hill. Puaka Hill involves an arduous climb up a rocky path, but the view of the granite quarry filled with cobalt-tinted water, and the Malaysian borders, is quite a stunner. Meanwhile, Chek Jawa is an intertidal area and is one of the country’s richest ecosystems. Amenities installed in recent years include a visitor centre with a viewing jetty, more than 1km-long boardwalks, and the 20m-tall Jejawi Tower.

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

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  7 / 10 Bukit Batok Nature Park

  The walking trail in this park weaves through an established secondary forest. To spot wildlife, visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The serene park was once mined for granite and because of this, the quarry has now been transformed into a large and green-tinted reflecting pool. Be sure to ascend the hill – which is more than 10 storeys high – for spectacular views of the quarry and its surrounds.

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

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  8 / 10 Fort Canning Park

  Located in the city centre, this park has been a silent sentinel that has stood through the ups and downs in Singapore’s history. Sights along its historical 2km-long trail include Raffles House and Raffles Terrace (named after Sir Stamford Raffles’ first bungalow), fort walls, an underground bunker, and the country’s first Christian cemetery.

  (Also read: 9 of The Most Scenic & Adventurous Hiking Trails in The World)

  Photo: 123rf.com

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  9 / 10 Dairy Farm Nature Park

  The 63ha park features an easy 1km trail known as the Wallace Trail, which will take one through a dense forested area to view remnants of houses and wells of a kampung (village in Malay), meandering streams and durian fruit trees. Also in the same vicinity is the Dairy Farm Quarry, where the vertical granite walls are popular among rock-climbing enthusiasts, and Singapore Quarry, which has been transformed into a wetland habitat with a viewing platform.

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

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  10 / 10 Coney Island

  Accessible from Punggol Promenade Punggol Point Walk, the tranquil 50ha Coney Island is home to five different beach areas, a mangrove boardwalk, three bird-watching hides, an adventure area, and a never-ending sight of lush green trees. There’s also an adventure area at the start point, which is made up of fallen Casuarina trees. While the paths are certainly walkable, cycling would be a better, and quicker way to explore the rugged terrain.

  (Can’t decide which trails to start with? Check out our top three hiking trails in Singapore.)

  Photo: Singapore Press Holdings

  This article first appeared on the Silverkris website with additional reporting by Peh Yi Wen

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Bukit Timah Nature Reserve The favourite training ground for hikers and mountaineers is the tallest natural hill in Singapore at 163.63 metres. Following a two-year restoration, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has reopened to the public. The entire summit trail is a mere 1.2km in length, but with a steep slope at the beginning and a 200m flight of steps at the end, it may be more challenging than perceived. To allow for more time to take in the unique flora and fauna, choose one of the more meandering trails to the top. (Also read: Here’s Why You Should Start Hiking) Photo: Singapore Press Holdings The Southern Ridges The Southern Ridges is a 10km route that encompasses three parks and one nature reserve – Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill, Kent Ridge, and Labrador Nature Reserve. Trek along the verdant route to discover architecturally-impressive bridges such as the Alexandra Arch and Henderson Waves, an elevated walkway known as the Forest Walk, and pieces of history such as the six-inch cannon from Singapore’s colonial past. Photo: Singapore Press Holdings Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve The 202ha ASEAN Heritage Park comprising mangrove swamps, mudflats, forests and tidal ponds, teems with rich biodiversity that you can spot while journeying through three trails: coastal (1.3km), forest (300m) and migratory bird (2km). Count yourself lucky if you see the Estuarine crocodiles in the waters. If not, look out for resident birds and native inhabitants like herons, kingfishers, mudskippers, water snakes and monitor lizards. For a chance to see diverse flocks of shorebirds or waders including plovers and sandpipers, plan your hikes during the migratory season from September to March. (Also read: 5 Best Hiking Shoes For Women) Photo: Peh Yi Wen Windsor Nature Park Located off Venus Drive at Upper Thomson, the 75ha Windsor Nature Park features freshwater streams, a marsh habitat and offers three easy boardwalk trails. Part of the 2.2km Squirrel and Drongo Trails include a 150m-long treetop walk that lets you trek through fauna found at the canopy level some four metres high. For families with strollers in tow, the flat 350m Hanguana Trail lined with rare native plants is your safest option. (Also read: What to Do When You Encounter Monkeys in Nature Parks) Photo: Singapore Press Holdings TreeTop Walk This 6km trail in MacRitchie is riddled with steep slopes and an undulating terrain, plus numerous flights of stairs on the route down. But standing above the forest canopy – on the 250m-long suspension bridge that was built between the two highest points in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve – and delighting in a bird’s-eye view of the area is certainly worth it. Note that the TreeTop Walk closes at 5pm everyday and on Mondays (except public holidays). Photo: Singapore Press Holdings Pulau Ubin Escape the city and head towards Pulau Ubin to explore Chek Jawa Wetlands and the 74m-high Puaka Hill. Puaka Hill involves an arduous climb up a rocky path, but the view of the granite quarry filled with cobalt-tinted water, and the Malaysian borders, is quite a stunner. Meanwhile, Chek Jawa is an intertidal area and is one of the country’s richest ecosystems. Amenities installed in recent years include a visitor centre with a viewing jetty, more than 1km-long boardwalks, and the 20m-tall Jejawi Tower. Photo: Singapore Press Holdings Bukit Batok Nature Park The walking trail in this park weaves through an established secondary forest. To spot wildlife, visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The serene park was once mined for granite and because of this, the quarry has now been transformed into a large and green-tinted reflecting pool. Be sure to ascend the hill – which is more than 10 storeys high – for spectacular views of the quarry and its surrounds. Photo: Singapore Press Holdings Fort Canning Park Located in the city centre, this park has been a silent sentinel that has stood through the ups and downs in Singapore’s history. Sights along its historical 2km-long trail include Raffles House and Raffles Terrace (named after Sir Stamford Raffles’ first bungalow), fort walls, an underground bunker, and the country’s first Christian cemetery. (Also read: 9 of The Most Scenic & Adventurous Hiking Trails in The World) Photo: 123rf.com Dairy Farm Nature Park The 63ha park features an easy 1km trail known as the Wallace Trail, which will take one through a dense forested area to view remnants of houses and wells of a kampung (village in Malay), meandering streams and durian fruit trees. Also in the same vicinity is the Dairy Farm Quarry, where the vertical granite walls are popular among rock-climbing enthusiasts, and Singapore Quarry, which has been transformed into a wetland habitat with a viewing platform. Photo: Singapore Press Holdings Coney Island Accessible from Punggol Promenade Punggol Point Walk, the tranquil 50ha Coney Island is home to five different beach areas, a mangrove boardwalk, three bird-watching hides, an adventure area, and a never-ending sight of lush green trees. There’s also an adventure area at the start point, which is made up of fallen Casuarina trees. While the paths are certainly walkable, cycling would be a better, and quicker way to explore the rugged terrain. (Can’t decide which trails to start with? Check out our top three hiking trails in Singapore.) Photo: Singapore Press Holdings This article first appeared on the Silverkris website with additional reporting by Peh Yi Wen