Clementi Forest — Attraction in Singapore

Do not strictly follow thetravelintern's (TTI) blog! Nothing personal, the markers just aren't there anymore.

We met 4 groups along the way and all were lost-ish, asking each other for directions haha ^^

We went yesterday, started from opposite Ngee Ann Polytechnic at 7am which I think was a real good timing as there was still the mist, which gave an enchanted /eerie look :)

With a few T-junctions (T) to confuse us, this is the path we took that brought us out to Sunset Way:

Take left from Canal. Keep walking. T, go right (even though it feels like the wrong way). Hop across a stream. T, go left. Big log to hop over (per TTI 's log photo, that view of the photo was on the way back* which got us confused). T, go left for red beams (photo op but it's a muddy steep descend), if you go right you'll get to the Rail Corridor, which gets a bit awkward because you're the only muddy one in hiking gear looking lost amongst other walkers/joggers. Come back* to the log. T, go left. Find a small piece of railway track on the ground leading into leafy entrance of a dense overgrowth (keep an eye out, it is rather small so at first glance I thought it was trash). Follow the railway tracks to Sunset Way (can follow TTI's blog accordingly). Grab a bite at one of the many bakeries/ice cream stores.

Basically the red/white markers are gone, there's a smaller log before the big log, other streams to cross in addition to TTI's photo, and you want to keep going generally RIGHT (the only thing to remember if you've no Internet to guide you) because you're essentially making a curve from entrance to exit, and one left turn after crossing a small stream took us to this amazonian-looking jungle which freaked me out a little. Before its entrance there are huge twisted vines on the ground, like a warning that I'm entering a nest of pythons shudder

THAT'S THE WRONG WAY.

Even though it hasn't been raining a few days, some parts were still muddy so be prepared to get your shoes icky. I didn't have a walking stick so some parts we used our hands to get up and down (bring wet wipes and a mini trash bag)

I wore sports shoes, my friend wore hiking shoes, she had an easier time~

I recommend Ngee Ann Sunset because there was a couple that did the other way and there was a muddy slope down near Sunset Way, not even dry muddy but wet slooshy muddy, so it was definitely easier to climb up by stepping on the roots and using 👐🏼 (don't think you can step on them going down as the angle was too steep, you'd need mountain goat's hoofs)

Also it got warmer so we were thankful for the overgrowth providing shade, if we had started from Sunset Way there's less shade at the end. If you don't get lost, it should take 1-1h15m. And GPS still worked in the forest ^^ (when we weren't sure...

I entered Clementi Forest from the rail corridor just after Bt Timah train station heading towards Ghim Moh. Entrance is on the right and is a simple path covered in dense vegetation with barely space for one leg. This trail is not for young children and those with mobility issues. Trail ends at Sunset Way. In my case, nearer to Sunset Way several trees fell blocking the path and so I turned back and walked up the slope at Clementi Road near the tunnel. This is quite easy and leads to a bus stop. A few things to remember to take along -

Waterproof trekking boots Trekking poles Mosquito repellant Cap or hat Long sleeved T shirt/ trekking pants Drinking water

The vegetation is quite dense and natural. No one is maintaining it. Seems like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie! I did not see any large animals. There could be snakes as I have seen before Malayan Coral Snakes and Cobras 2 km away. Plenty of insects - mosquitoes, ants, spiders, etc. Most of the trail is along the old derelict KTM railway line. This rail track stretches about 14 km from Bukit Timah station to Jurong Industrial Estate connecting Mobil Refinery and National Iron & Steel Mills. The line was partly funded by the Economic Development Board, Singapore and opened in 1965-66 and was meant for bringing raw materials from Malaya into Jurong for processing and carrying back finished goods. With the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, less traffic flowed along the line and it was eventually totally shutdown in mid-90’s. Since then, the jungle has reclaimed the land. Several parts of the rail track are submerged in water so better visit during the dry season. Red clay and swampy soil so be careful where you place your foot. Suggest to go in a team of at least 3 to 4 persons. Difficult to keep your shoes dry. The path brings you under and over fallen trees, edges of eroding soil, muddy slopes, etc. Watch out for thorny branches and ants on fallen tree trunks. Overall quite a fun trail if you do not mind the challenges. Better visit before urbanisation clears this stretch of forest area. Several development projects ongoing in King Albert Park...

Clementi Forest - Adjacent to the Old Bukit Timah Railway Station which's connects to the Rail Corridor in Singapore. It's one of the most authentic hiking trails, not a large area and also known as Route off the Green Corridor that ended in Sunset Way. There's two different ways to enter; From the entrance behind the bus stop - opposite the Ngee Ann Polytechnic and From the Old Bukit Timah Railway - walkable from the King Albert MRT Station. Doable in an hour (one way) from the Corridor Entrance ➡️ the old railway track ➡️ Old Jurong/Clementi Tunnel ➡️ Sunset View and Sunset Drive. It's interesting to explore the lush green forest with rare vegetation and considerable flora and fauna through the muddy paths, crossing a stream of shallow water, slippery steep and dirt soil erosion at some parts. Clementi Forest's also a nice place to explore in the early morning/dawn for the fog (mist) which's appear on the floor tropical rainforest when the sun comes out. If you're lucky you can see the scures of birds, spot lizards, butterfly and small...