Southern Ridges: Singapore's Best Urban Nature Walk

What Is the Southern Ridges?

The Southern Ridges is a continuous 10 km trail network running along the forested hills of southwest Singapore. Conceived by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 2002 and completed in stages, fully opened in 2008 at a cost of S$25.5 million, it stitches together five distinct parks: Kent Ridge Park, HortPark, Telok Blangah Hill Park, Mount Faber Park, and Labrador Nature Reserve. The result is one of the longest and most varied urban green corridors in Southeast Asia, all completely free to walk.

Unlike the manicured gardens of the Singapore Botanic Gardens or the curated spectacle of Gardens by the Bay, the Southern Ridges feels genuinely wild in stretches. Secondary rainforest presses in close on either side of the path. You will hear cicadas long before you see the skyline. At Telok Blangah Hill Park, the terrain rises to 94 metres, giving unobstructed views across the port and out to the islands of the Strait of Singapore. It is the kind of experience that makes visitors reconsider how dense this city actually is.

The Trail in Order: What to Expect at Each Section

Most walkers start at Kent Ridge Park (accessible from Kent Ridge MRT, then a short taxi or bus ride, or a 15-minute walk uphill) and finish at Mount Faber or HarbourFront, making it a point-to-point route rather than a loop. This east-to-west direction means you end near MRT access and the cable car terminal, which suits first-timers.

Kent Ridge Park

Kent Ridge Park covers 47 hectares and carries significant wartime history. It was the site of the Battle of Pasir Panjang in February 1942, one of the last stands of the Malay Regiment against Japanese forces before the fall of Singapore. Reflections at Bukit Chandu, a memorial museum within the park, marks that history. The ridge here is wide and shaded, and in the early morning, kingfishers and sunbirds are regularly spotted in the canopy.

Canopy Walk and HortPark

The Canopy Walk is the trail's most photographed feature: a 280-metre elevated walkway suspended between trees, roughly level with the upper forest canopy. The structure sways slightly underfoot, which unnerves some visitors and delights others. From its highest point, you look out across a sea of palm crowns with the port cranes of Tanjong Pagar visible in the distance. It is best in the hour after sunrise when mist sometimes lingers in the lower valleys.

HortPark sits below the Canopy Walk and functions as a gardening hub and lifestyle park. It is a natural rest stop, with toilet facilities, water points, and a small café. Families with young children often come no further than HortPark, making it a solid half-day option on its own.

Telok Blangah Hill Park and the Henderson Waves

At 94 metres, Telok Blangah Hill Park is the highest point along the route and the location of the Henderson Waves bridge, which connects it to Mount Faber. Designed by RSP Architects and completed in 2008, Henderson Waves is a 274-metre pedestrian bridge shaped in a continuous wave form, rising up to 36 metres above Henderson Road. The ribbed timber shelters built into the undulating structure double as benches, and people regularly sit there at dusk to watch the container ships moving in and out of the world's second-busiest port.

The Singing Forest, planted in 2010 near Gillman Village on the lower slopes of this section, contains 200 trees representing 38 native species. The name refers to the ambient sound of insects and birds the forest was designed to attract. It is a quiet detour that most trail maps overlook.

Mount Faber Park

Mount Faber is the western end of the ridge walk and the easiest entry point for those who want only the highlights. The summit café and Singapore Cable Car terminal make it a busier place than the rest of the trail, particularly on weekend afternoons. The views here face northeast across Keppel Harbour toward the city skyline, which is best lit in the late afternoon when the towers catch the low sun from the west.

Time of Day: When to Walk and What You Will Find

Early morning, from 6:30 to 9:00 am, is when the trail earns its reputation. Temperature and humidity are lower, the light is soft, and the wildlife is active. Local joggers are out in numbers, but the trail never feels crowded. Sunrise from the Canopy Walk or the Henderson Waves on a clear day is genuinely striking, with the gantry cranes catching the first light across still water.

Midday is the least comfortable time to walk the full trail. Singapore sits just north of the equator, and between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm the exposed sections of the Henderson Waves bridge and the Telok Blangah summit can be punishing. Carry at least one litre of water per person and wear a hat.

Late afternoon, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, draws a second wave of visitors for good reason. The heat eases, the golden-hour light makes the forested sections glow, and the Henderson Waves at dusk is one of the better free viewpoints in the city. The bridge is lit at night with LED lighting that traces the wave form. If you time it right, you can be there for both sunset and the lights coming on.

Getting There and Getting Around

For the full point-to-point walk, the practical approach is to take the MRT to Kent Ridge station (Circle Line, CC24), then a bus or short taxi ride up to the park entrance near the National University of Singapore. Buses 95, 200, and 265 stop along South Buona Vista Road, within walking distance of the Kent Ridge Park access point. Alternatively, start at the HarbourFront end and walk east, though this means the steeper climbs come later.

If you want only the Henderson Waves and Mount Faber section, the easiest access is HarbourFront MRT (North-East/Circle Line), then either a 15-minute walk up to Mount Faber or a ride on the Singapore Cable Car from VivoCity. Note that the cable car requires a separate ticket and is not part of the free trail experience.

What to Bring and How to Prepare

The trail is well-maintained and does not require hiking boots, but grip matters on the steeper, shadier sections where the concrete path stays damp. Trainers with decent soles are adequate. Flip-flops are not suitable for the full route.

• At least 1 litre of water per person (refill points at HortPark)
• Sunscreen and a hat for the exposed bridge sections
• Insect repellent for the lower forest sections around Kent Ridge
• A light rain jacket or compact umbrella for afternoon storms
• Portable battery pack if you plan to rely on Google Maps for navigation

Photography benefits from either very early light or the last hour before sunset. The Canopy Walk frames the forest canopy in a way that works well with a wide-angle lens or a phone in portrait mode. The Henderson Waves is best shot from below, from Henderson Road, for its full wave profile, or from Telok Blangah Hill looking back along the bridge at dusk.

Who This Trail Is Really For, and Who Might Not Enjoy It

The Southern Ridges works well for anyone who wants genuine green space and city views without paying for a theme park. It rewards walkers who are comfortable on uneven terrain and happy to navigate between park zones using signage. The full 10 km takes two and a half to four hours depending on pace and stops.

Visitors with limited mobility will find parts of the trail challenging. The elevated walkways and the steeper sections near Kent Ridge involve steps that are not easily bypassed, and while NParks has improved accessibility in recent years, the trail is not fully wheelchair accessible throughout. Those looking for a comfortable, fully accessible green walk in Singapore are better served by the Singapore Botanic Gardens or Gardens by the Bay.

Travellers with only a day or two in Singapore face a real choice. The Southern Ridges does not compete with the concentrated spectacle of Gardens by the Bay or the density of Chinatown for first-time visitors. But for anyone on a second trip, or anyone who finds the main tourist circuit overly commercial, this trail is a meaningful counterpoint to the city's managed image.