Kuala Lumpur: Hiking Spot in Malaysia – KL Forest Eco Park
Are you looking for a great hiking spot in Malaysia?
Finding a good hiking spot in Malaysia isn’t actually a challenge; it is finding one near Kuala Lumpur that might leave you stumped.
Some of the most popular spots for Kuala Lumpur residents tend to be overcrowded (I’m looking at you, Bukit Gasing) or not quite so challenging.
Local favourites include hiking spots near Mont Kiara and Puchong while the most interesting ones tend to be located further outside the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Places like Gunung Datuk or Gunung Tabur, each necessitating a minimum of one hours’ drive just to reach the starting point.
The obvious problem is that if you want to get in a good challenging hike, you need to wake up really early. Forget sleeping in despite it being the weekend!
However, I consider the KL Forest Eco Park to be a real game changer. Put this hiking spot on your weekend agenda, and you will get your hike while also managing to avoid waking to the dreaded 5am alarm!
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Bukit Nanas: Malaysia’s Secret Rainforest Hiking Spot
Bukit Nanas is Malay for Pineapple Hill (“Bukit” being the Malay word for “hill’). A mere 10 minutes walk from Suria KLCC, The Four Seasons / Robinsons, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (“KLCC”) and Aquarium KL, Bukit Nanas stands on prime land and is a great hiking spot in Malaysia.
Surprisingly enough, this is forest reserve is often overlooked by locals, even those looking for a great hiking spot in Malaysia. Maybe it’s the prospect of battling traffic just to get to the city center, but Malaysians opting for a city hike frequently end up in Bukit Gasing (terrible place to find car park spaces) or Mont Kiara, but you rarely hear of anyone having gone to Bukit Nanas. That is why once you have read this guide, you will have stumbled upon a secret that most of the locals aren’t all that well versed in!
About Bukit Nanas (KL Forest Eco Park)
This forest reserve has undergone several name changes. Once known as Mount Weld Forest Reserve (or Bukit Gombak Forest Reserve), it became “Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve”, before finally landing upon its final iteration of the “Kuala Lumpur Forest Eco Park”. For ease of reference, I shall be referring to it as Bukit Nanas in this article (because it’s a mouthful to use its full name!).
Fun facts about Bukit Nanas:
- In the 19th century, numerous battles between rival warlords were held on Bukit Nanas. The hill itself formed part of a fort, although nothing remains today.
- “Nanas”, which refers to “pineapple” in Malay, was used in the naming of this hill because it is believe that pineapples were planted around this fort to deter attackers;
- It was gazetted in 1906 with 17.5 hectares. Unfortunately due to logging, encroachment and a whole host of modern day problems, with a large portion being taken up by Menara Kuala Lumpur (or the KL Tower), it now stands at 9.3 hectares;
- It remains one of the oldest permanent forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia; and
- It is the only remaining tropical rainforest in the heart of KL (you can’t beat calling KLCC your neighbour!).
Armed with those interesting background facts, lets get practical.
Getting to Bukit Nanas
Bukit Nanas is open daily, including public weekends and public holidays, from 7am to 6pm.
You can get to this hiking spot by car, train, taxi or Grab.
By car:
- Bukit Nanas Monorail station car park (Jalan Ampang): Parking fees are RM 7
- Bukit Nanas (Jalan Raja Chulan): Parking fees are RM 10 (this is the official entrance)
- Jalan Aquilera (outside the Convent School): There were some cars parked outside although the entrance was locked at the time – won’t really recommend trying this entrance!
By train:
- Bukit Nanas Monorail station (Jalan Ampang): Exit the station, and look for the small gallery called Wariseni. Behind Wariseni is a footpath leading into the Bukit Nanas forest reserve . Be warned that you will first have to get past a steep and long flight of stairs. The entrance should not take you more than 5 minutes walk from the station
- Dang Wangi LRT Station, by taking Rapid KL LRT: Take overhead bridge across Jalan Ampang when you exit the station, turning left and walking towards Bukit Nanas Monorail Station. You will need to enter the same way as if you had arrived at the Bukit Nanas Monorail station (see instructions above)
By Bus:
- KL Hop On Hop Off Bus, Stop 7 on City Route
- Visit: http://www.myhoponhopoff.com/kl/index.html for the map
- You will need to pay to use this bus
- GoKL City Bus: https://www.gokl.com.my
- FREE to use this bus!
- There are 2 ways to get to Bukit Nanas. Either get off at:
- “KL Tower” on the purple line; or
- “Bukit Nanas” on the blue line
Recommended:
To get to this hiking spot, take GoKL City Bus (it’s free, yay!), drive or take the train to Bukit Nanas Monorail station.
Either way, you will end up at the Jalan Ampang located right next to the station.
The only drawback is that you will encounter a steep flight of steps to enter the forest reserve.
Rainforest City Hike in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Assuming you enter via the Bukit Nanas (Jalan Ampang route), you will be greeted by a giant entrance gate, with a steep flight of steps waiting just beyond:
You will find a wooden warning on your left from the Director General of the Forestry Peninsula Malaysia that states:
Visitors entering Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve are at their own risk. Department shall not liable for any accidents, death, damage or loss of belongings. For your own safety, you are advised to leave the area in cases of rain or storm.
Soon after, you will reach a split in the path:
Denai Jelutong Hiking Trail
I opted for Denai Jelutong (the “Jelutong Trail“) to my left, which looks like this:
The Jelutong Trail hugs the edge of the forest reserve and the trail is pretty easy and fairly flat. Leaves litter the grounds with the occasional roots running across your path. Nothing to worry about even if you go about in sandals.
You will encounter a quaint little Hobbit-like wooden table and chair to your right, and there are parts of the trail that allow you to catch glimpses of the city just beyond the jungle. At times, a wooden barrier is present to keep you from the edge but that does not last for the entire trail so I would keep your children close!
As you can see, the terrain is rather flat although it does slope downwards a little. There are tiny wooden planks planted into the ground to help your journey downwards.
We also encountered many wooden plaques (like the one above) that were meant to give us information on the trees and plants we were seeing but unfortunately the descriptions have long been ripped away. Nevertheless, the trees are massive! I believe the one below is a Jelutong tree (the namesake of this trail), which can grow up to 200 feet and are known for their huge, lofty crowns.
After around 10 minutes, you will arrive at a small clearing with wooden benches laid around it to rest. A quaint yellow bridge lies beside it, bringing you to the next part of the forest reserve.
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Bamboo Walk (not quite a hiking trail)
Once you cross the aforesaid yellow bridge, you have a choice of going up more flights of stairs to your left:
I recommend taking the right to enter one of my favourite parts of the reserve: the Bamboo Walk.
As you can see, a tiled pavement cuts through this airy portion of the forest with a small clump of bamboo plants to the right to lend credence to its name. It’s a shame, really; if there were more bamboo plants, this would have been an incredible place like Arashiyama in Kyoto, Japan! Even so, this bamboo feature is a personal favourite and one of the reasons I would recommend coming here if you are short on time but still looking for a hiking spot in Malaysia.
In terms of timing, this area should not take you more than 5 minutes to cross, even with you pausing to take some photos.
You will know that you have reached the end of the Bamboo Walk when the pavement begins to slope downwards.
Suboh Hiking Trail
As you head downwards, you will pass through an old banana grove before encountering a sign pointing to Suboh trail.
Again, another easy trail that leads you through a banana plantation. You will emerge at the edge of the forest and emerge at the gate leading to SK Convent (2) Bukit Nanas on Jalan Aquilaria (which connects to Jalan Bukit Nanas). We went on a Saturday so most of the time, we were privy to the school’s brass band rehearsal even when we were hiking near the base of Menara Kuala Lumpur!
This was also the only place where we finally found a map of the forest reserve. Given how many trails there are, I would highly recommend ensuring that you have a copy of the map when you make your first visit here. It can get very confusing and frustrating! We found ourselves retaking the same routes although if you take the path outlined here, you ought to avoid any repeats while seeing most of Bukit Nanas!
I would recommend continuing onwards until you reach the tarred road. Follow the road upwards. You will catch your first glimpse of Menara Kuala Lumpur (or the KL Tower)!
As you are nearing the top, you will see a small resting area with two smaller trails branching off for the Penarahan Trail and Jelutong Trail respectively.
You have two options at this point: either continue upwards towards KL Tower (and the canopy skywalk) or take a small detour.
Jelutong Hiking Trail (continuation)
If you’re up for a small detour, take the Jelutong Trail. This trail hugs the edges of the mini petting zoo, and you get to spot some of the animals, including racoons and llamas!
This route is quite run down with broken and uneven wooden planks. You will definitely get the sense of nature having a stronger grip this deep into the forest.
Once you reach the end, look out for the sign for Penarahan Trail. The trail is known for its twisting lianas. Take this to go back up towards where the KL Tower awaits.
Detour from Hiking: KL Tower Entrance
If you had continued straight on the tarred road, you will find the KL Tower looming tall and white. It’s a pretty magnificent sight.
I will write separately about the KL Tower as there are so many things to do and see there: the mini zoo, aquarium, and skydeck are all things that can easily occupy several hours of your time.
Detour from Hiking: KL Eco Park Canopy Skywalk
For the record, this famous 200m canopy skywalk was not easy to find. We took many frustrating detours before stumbling on this place. There is no particular sign to indicate its presence, but try asking people around you for the canopy walk. Someone is bound to be able to help. It’s what the KL Forest Eco Park is famous for, after all!
To find the entrance, make sure that the KL Tower entrance is at your back. Walk forwards. You will soon see a small bridge branching out on your left. That’s the entrance!
There is a sign located alongside the entrance: 4 out of the 5 QR codes work!
I have inserted the information provided in both Malays and English below to save you the trouble of downloading them.
Nama Tempatan / Local Name : Kelat
Nama Saintifik / Scientific Name : Syzgium sp.
Famili / Family : Myrtaceae
Habitat : Tanah pamah dan lereng bukit / Lowland to Hill Forest
Getah/Damar / Latex / Resin : Kuning berkilat / Shining yellow
Warna kayu / Wood Colour : Cokelat kemerah-merahan / Brownish red
Kegunaan / Uses : Venir, kayu lapis dan kayu gergaji / Veneer, plywood and sawn timber.
Kayu adalah cukup kuat untuk digunakan untuk tujuan struktur seperti tiang, rasuk, gelegar, bumbung, struktur berat yang sederhana, tiang penghantaran telegraf, badan kenderaan , kapal dan rangka bot.
The timber is strong enough to be used for structural purposes like posts, beams, joists, rafters, medium heavy structures, telegraphic and power transmission posts and cross arms, staircase, vehicle bodies ship and boat building as well as columns.
Nama Tempatan / Local Name: Pepijat
Nama Saintifik / Scientific Name : Prunus arborea
Famili / Family :Rosaceae
Habitat : Tepi sungai hingga ke lereng bukit / River bank to Hill forest
Getah / Damar / Latex / Resin : Tiada / No
Warna kayu / Wood Colour : Merah jambu / Pink
Kegunaan / Uses : Tanaman Hiasan / Ornamental
Pokok pepijat adalah pokok daun luruh yang biasanya tumbuh sehingga 15 meter tinggi. Pokok ini di tebang untuk kayu, yang digunakan secara tempatan dan ada kalanya diniagakan. Pokok ini mempunyai potensi untuk dijadikan tanaman hiasan. Air rebusan daun boleh digunakan sebagai minuman untuk menyegerakan proses melahirkan anak. Batangnya dikatakan sesuai untuk membuat bekas menyimpan beras. Kegunaan lain termasuk papan , papan berlamina, lantai, perabot, venir dan papan lapis.Prunus arborea is a deciduous tree that usually grows up to 15 metres tall.
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and sometimes traded. The tree has potential for growing as an ornamental. A decoction of leaves is used as a drink to precipitate childbirth during labour. The bark is said to be suitable for making rice containers. Other uses include general planking, laminated boards, domestic flooring, general utility furniture, veneer and plywood.
Nama Tempatan / Local Name: Penaga lilin
Nama Saintifik / Scientific Name : Mesua ferrea
Famili / Family :Calophyllaceae Habitat : Tanah pamah hingga ke kawasan bukit / Lowland to Hill forest
Getah / Damar / Latex / Resin : Kuning berkilat / Shinning yellow
Warna kayu / Wood Colour : Merah gelap / Dark red
Kegunaan / Uses : Perubatan tradisional dan hiasan / Medicinal and ornamental
Pokok Penaga Lilin dikenali sebagai Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut, or cobra’s saffron. Pokok ini berasal dari Sri Lanka, India, Selatan Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Filipina, Malaysia dan Sumatera.Nama kayu besi (ironwood) menunjukkan kayu pokok ini adalah sangat berat, keras dan kuat dan warna merah gelap pada isi kayunya. Pokok Penaga Lilin adalah pokok kebangsaan Sri Lanka. Ia ditanam secara meluas di Asia sebagai hiasan kerana bentuk anggun pokok tersebut.Penaga Lilin tree, known as Ceylon Ironwood, Indian Rose Chestnut, or Cobra’s saffron.
The Penaga Lilin tree is known as Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut or cobra’s saffron. tree is native to Sri Lanka, India, Southern Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, the Philippines, Malaysia and Sumatra. The name ironwood shows the wood of this tree is very heavy, hard, strong and the timber is dark red in color. Penaga Lilin tree is the national tree of Sri Lanka. It is widely cultivated in Asia as an ornamental tree because of graceful shape.
Nama Tempatan / Local Name: Pisang hutan
Nama Saintifik / Scientific Name : Musa acuminata
Famili / Family :Musaceae Habitat : Kawasan tanah lapang / River bank to Hill forest
Getah / Damar / Latex / Resin : Tiada / No
Warna kayu / Wood Colour : Tiada / No
Kegunaan / Uses : Batang boleh dimakan, daun digunakan untuk membungkus makanan / Stems are edible, leaves are used to wraps food.
Antara kegunaan yang boleh diperolehi adalah buahnya boleh dimakan walaupun terdapat biji yang banyak, daun pisang boleh digunakan untuk membungkus makanan, bunganya bagi merawat ulser dalam perubatan tradisi dan batang pisang biasanya dimasak gulai oleh penduduk tempatan.
Musa acuminata fruit can be eaten even there are a lot of seeds, banana leaves are used to wrap food, flowers are used to treat ulcers in the traditional medical and banana stem is usually cooked and turn into a local delicacy.
What I like about the canopy walk is the location. It is right at the foot of the KL Tower so if you’re looking just to get the famous Bukit Nanas canopy Instagram shot, you can still make it here in a dress and sandals! Just make sure you head over to KL Tower and enter the canopy from there.
The entrance to the canopy, which features long walkways anchored by several towers up to 20m above ground, looks like this:
Walk the entire length of this canopy skywalk! While it really isn’t that long, it’s quite pretty.
THE Instagram shot that you want is at the very end of the canopy skywalk. For reference, this is what the shot looks like so you know how to angle your shot:
And there you have it! A complete guide to hiking in Bukit Nanas, one of the lesser known but no less interesting hiking spots in Malaysia.
Safety Precaution
Even though the trails are generally in good condition, I think the apt word to describe them is “worn”.
As such, please be careful when you go exploring some of the places are quite broken down, including the bridge of the canopy skywalk itself.
Here are some of the sights you might encounter:
TL;DR
To sum it up, Bukit Nanas is a great hiking spot in Malaysia even if you are only around for a short weekend. In case you didn’t have the time to read the recount above, this is what KL Forest Eco Park has going for it:
- An unbeatable location in the heart of KL: Menara KL, the petting zoo, aquarium, KLCC and the Petronas Twin Towers are all within walking distance from the forest reserve;
- Plenty of accommodations to choose from which are within walking distance from the forest reserve: You can choose to stay at classy hotels like the Hotel Stripes, W Hotel or Mandarin Oriental. For those opting for AirBnBs, there are numerous options such as The Face and Mercu Summer Suites along Jalan Cendana – perfect even for locals looking for a quick staycation; and finally
- The forest reserve itself has many facets to discover, including stone steps, wooden pathways, red bridges, the bamboo walkway and the canopy skywalk.
Bukit Nanas will make for a great half day out for solo travelers, couples and families alike. Have I convinced you to putting Bukit Nanas down as a must-do hiking spot in Malaysia?
Difficulty level: Easy
Final Thoughts
Did you enjoy this detailed guide to doing a city hike in Kuala Lumpur?
Do you know of any other great hiking spot in Malaysia that deserves some love and recognition?
Let me know in the comments below or just give a holler via email!
P/S: If you’re an expat looking to move to KL, check this post out for all the essential details!
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P/S: If you haven’t already done so, check out my guide to spelunking in the depths of West Malaysia’ largest limestone cave, Gua Tempurung.
8 Comments
Melissa
This looks like an absolutely beautiful place to visit! Your pictures are gorgeous. I would love to visit and take this was someday. Thank you for sharing this with all of us!
admin
You’re welcome! Hope you get to visit one day. 🙂
Christy
I love this post! Your pictures are breathtaking, and you have given so many details in order to help those that would hike there. I wish I wasn’t half way around the world 😕
admin
Thank you! And this can absolutely be on your to-do when you’re on the right side of the world! 😉
Sara Kendall
Enjoyed reading your informative guide. Now, this hiking spot is on my must-do list when I’m Malaysia.
admin
That is great to hear!
Nomads RTW
Hiking is something we do on all our trips, so this is pretty useful information for us!
The place looks truly gorgeous 🙂
admin
Glad it is useful for you! Do let me know if you ever do the hike! 🙂