9 Local Hiking Trails Waiting To Be Explored By Curious Adventure Seekers
These breathtaking hiking trails in KL, Selangor and Pahang will change your mind about bumping your 'get fit' resolution to next year!
1. Bukit Kiara Park in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
Difficulty level: Easy. Duration from base to peak: One hour to 90 minutes for the tarmac and jungle trails.Opening hours: Daily.Highlights: Besides hikers, there are trails suitable for joggers, cyclists, mountain bikers and occasionally horse riders! Cost: None. Things you should know: Monkeys may appear sometimes so be alert.
2. Broga Hill in Semenyih, Selangor
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Duration from base to peak: 40 minutes.
Opening hours: Daily.
Highlights: Many recommend hiking the hill as early as 5am just to catch the sunrise, as the view is surreally magnificent with a panoramic view of both the rainforest and city at the border of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.Cost: RM2 for parking charges.Things you should know: There are actually four peaks on Broga Hill and an additional jungle trail from the summit to Gunung Tok Wan. Although the top of Broga Hill was burned in a recent fire, the hill is still open to visitors.
3. Canopy Walk in Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong
Difficulty level: Easy.
Duration from base to peak: Different trails take between 30 minutes to one hour to walk.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday and weekends, from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm. Subjected to weather conditions.
Highlights: Popular for its picnic area and waterfalls.Cost: Tickets vary according to the trail, during the weekends, get there early to purchase them from the FRIM One Stop Centre as it sells out fast. Things you should know: There are also 6 other trails you could try with varying levels of difficulty.
4. Rainbow Falls in Sungai Lembing, Kuantan
Difficulty level: Easy. Duration from base to peak: 45 minutes.Opening hours: Daily.Highlights: There is a rainbow at the end of your hike, and if you are lucky, you get double the rainbows!Cost: None. Things you should know: The rainbow appears between 10am to 11am and the best seats in the house are at the right side of the waterfall.
5. Panorama Hill in Sungai Lembing, Kuantan
Difficulty level: Easy. Duration from base to peak: 20 to 45 minutes.Opening hours: Daily.Highlights: If you are up for it the track continues to the Sungai Lembing track which takes an additional hour.Cost: None. Things you should know: Sunrise begins at 7am so be sure to reach the hill before then and carry a torchlight. It also can be crowded during the weekends.
6. Chiling Waterfalls in Kuala Kubu Bharu
Difficulty level: Moderate. Duration from base to peak: One hour.Opening hours: Friday to Sunday from 8am to 6pm.Highlights: There are three waterfall levels, the highest is less crowded and suitable for picnics.Cost: RM1 for registration fees. Things you should know: You will have to cross the Chilling river six times which can be waist deep. Hence, wear slippers with good grips such as Teva, Crocs or the highly recommended 'Kampung Adidas'.
7. Bukit Nanas also known as KL Forest Eco Park in Kuala Lumpur
Difficulty level: Easy.
Duration from base to peak: 30 minutes.
Opening hours: Daily from 7am to 7pm. Subjective to rainy conditions.
Highlights: It is close to the KL Tower.Cost: Free. Things you should know: A complimentary tour by officials at the Forest Trail Gate is provided for those who have a KL Tower Observation Deck ticket, according to this schedule.
8. Gunung Nuang in Hulu Langat, Selangor
Difficulty level: Challenging. Duration from base to peak: Four to five hours.Opening hours: Daily.Highlights: There are two camp sites, Kem Lolo and Kem Pacat where the iconic Gunung Nuang tree is.Cost: RM1 for registration fees. Things you should know: Bring a torch light. If you plan to reach the peak, your cut-off time should be 1pm.
9. Bukit Tabur in Taman Melawati, Selangor
Difficulty level: Challenging, as it requires a fair bit of rock climbing. Duration from base to peak: Up to three to four hours.Opening hours: Thursday, weekends, and public holidays from 8.30am to 5pm.Highlights: Also known as the The Dragon’s Backbone, it is the world’s longest quartz ridge that offers a majestic view of the Klang Gates Dam, the Melawati hills, and the KL skyline.Cost: RM5 per person for a climbing permit from the Forestry Department. Things you should know: There are two routes, Bukit Tabur West, and Bukit Tabur East which is for experienced hikers. Plus, team up with experienced hikers who have climbed it before as the hike could become dangerous if you don't know what you are doing.